Evaluation of the Lungs of Individuals With Lung Disease

Bronchoscopy consists of the passage via the mouth or nose of a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy into the airways. In the lavage (washing) procedure, sterile 0.9% saline (5 x 20 ml aliquots in 1 to 3 sites) is instilled into the lung and immediately suctioned back, washing off cells lining the airways.In the brushing procedure, a small cytology brush is passed through the bronchoscope, and a small area of the airway wall is brushed gently to obtain epithelial cells lining the airway. Certain individuals may have bronchial wall biopsy carried out. In this procedure, a small biopsy forceps is passed through the bronchoscope and a small biopsy is obtained from the bronchial wall.