Bronchoscopy

Because of the anaesthesia, you may not remember much afterward. The medical team will keep an eye on you for a few hours to make sure you don’t have any problems. Your mouth and throat may be numb, but that’ll wear off in a few hours. You won’t be able to eat or drink until the numbness is gone and you can swallow normally. Start with sips of water and soft foods, like soup.

In the next few days, you may have a sore throat or hoarseness. Cough drops can help. Call your doctor if you have:

• Fever for more than a day
• Chest pain
• Trouble breathing
• Blood when you cough

A bronchoscopy is usually safe, but there are a few risks. If your oxygen levels drop during the procedure, the doctor may give you oxygen.

Afterward, you could get a fever or pneumonia. Or you might notice some bleeding. It’s rare, but a bronchoscopy can cause a collapsed lung. This is treatable, but you’ll have to stay in the hospital. Your doctor may order a chest X-ray after a bronchoscopy to check for any problems