Bronchoscopy Considerations

I’m always surprised by the number of people booking consultations with me with the primary concern of whether or not they should have a bronchoscopy. 

Their often-mentioned concern about bronchoscopy is the potential risk of infection from introducing a scope into the lungs. 
While I am not a clinician and do not provide medical advice, I educate individuals on what they might want to consider in their decision-making and to help them engage their medical team in discussion.

On a personal note, early in my disease, I underwent a bronchoscopy after three sputum samples tested negative for bacteria but my CT scan showed bronchiectasis progression. 
The procedure revealed that I had a MAC (Mycobacterium avium complex) infection. This information was crucial, as it enabled me to commit to airway clearance even though I was initially unable to produce sputum and my chronic cough had stopped. Fortunately, with practice and creativity, I eventually learned how to produce enough sputum for analysis.

As highlighted at many professional conferences I’ve attended, a certain proportion of individuals with bronchiectasis are classified as “dry bronchiectatic.” This means that despite mastering airway clearance techniques, they may not cough up mucus unless they have a respiratory infection.

For those on multiple antibiotics for infections like MAC, bronchoscopy can be essential to determine whether the drugs are effective. Without it, people might continue taking harsh medications that are unnecessary or ineffective.

It’s important to emphasize that bronchoscopy should not replace airway clearance. I’ve heard from several clients that their doctors prioritized bronchoscopies without addressing airway clearance. This raises an important question: if patients were properly educated on airway clearance techniques, could some invasive procedures be avoided?

Like many decisions in life, this ultimately becomes a risk-reward calculation. It’s a discussion that should involve your family and medical team. If you lack confidence in your current medical team, do your best to seek out more expert care.
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#Bronchoscopies #Bronchiectasis #Pseudomonas #BEWarrior