Bronchoscopes; an Endoscopic Technique Used To Study the Inner Pathways of Lungs

 

Bronchoscopes is an endoscopic method of viewing the internal organs for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. A bronchoscope is inserted into the lungs, either through the mouth or nose, or sometimes through a tracheostomy. It is equipped with a light source and sound waves for viewing the lungs and bronchioles. Bronchoscopy has gained popularity in recent years for its ability to provide detailed images of the lungs and bronchioles. This is particularly useful when lung functions are affected, such as in acute bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma. Common reasons for needing bronchoscopy are a persistent cough, infection, or something unusual seen on a chest X-ray or other test.

In bronchoscopy, doctors use a thin, tube-shaped instrument called the bronchoscope to view the respiratory tract, the trachea, the bronchioles, and any abnormal structures or enlargements of the lung. The bronchoscope allows the doctor to identify and isolate any problems that may be related to the respiratory system, and can also be used to obtain samples of tissue or mucus, to remove foreign bodies, or to provide treatment for lung problems. A method of diagnosing bronchitis is done using endobronchial ultrasound. In this test, the doctor uses sound waves to generate an image of the respiratory tract. The bronchoscope is placed in the nostrils and transmits sound waves in the direction of the windpipe (bronchi).

The endobronchial ultrasound produces a clear image of the bronchial tubes (bronchi) and their walls. The doctor uses this information to determine the cause of the bronchitis. Furthermore, bronchoscope is widely used to diagnose infection, tumors, foreign bodies, inflammation, lung bleeding, and parasites. On the basis of their designs, bronchoscopes are of two types, such as rigid and flexible. Rigid bronchoscopes help remove foreign bodies from the airways or lungs, while flexible bronchoscopes enable real-time video recording as they employ flexible optical cables. However, the major types of bronchoscopes have their own advantages, depending on the nature of the medical conditions.

Thus, with the increasing incidence of airway problems, the demand for bronchoscopes is also increasing. According to the Global Asthma Report 2018, the prevalence of asthma continues to increase in Mexico, yet underdiagnosis and poor control of the disease are still major issues.