Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy is a valuable tool in the diagnosis and treatment of various respiratory diseases. Often combined with CT analysis of the thorax, bronchoscopy provides detail often missing from radiography alone when assessing respiratory cases.
Reasons for Bronchoscopy
- Chronic coughing
- Respiratory distress / acute airway changes eg collapsing trachea)
- Coughing blood
- Foreign body inhalation
- Investigation into abnormal respiratory sounds – crackles, rales.
Bronchoscopy Outcomes
- Evaluation of airways to assess the trachea and bronchi, providing information into the source of the disease
- Collection of mucoid and fluid samples via bronchi-alveolar lavage for cytology, culture and PCR analysis
- Retrieval of foreign bodies
Once a diagnosis is achieved a longer term treatment plan can be formulated. If there are cancer changes or other intra-thoracic abnormalities, Southwater vets can offer surgical thoracic surgical options and oncology services also
CT showing pulmonary inflammation (red)
Pulmonary foreign body (Barley Head)
