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Why do the secrets deep in the lungs have to be revealed through a thin tube?
In today's era of rapid development of medical technology, lung health issues have received more and more attention. To diagnose and treat various lung diseases, doctors often use a technique called bronchoscopy. This technology penetrates deep into the airways of the lungs through a thin tube to reveal the secrets hidden deep in the lungs.
Bronchoscopic examination is an endoscopic technique used to visualize the inside of the respiratory tract and has both diagnostic and therapeutic functions.
The basic principle of bronchoscopy is to insert a special tube (bronchoscope) into the patient's nasal cavity or mouth, sometimes even through a tracheostomy, so that the doctor can directly examine the lungs for abnormalities, including foreign objects , bleeding, tumors or inflammation. Additionally, samples may be taken from the lungs for further examination.
The history of bronchoscopy
The history of bronchoscopy can be traced back to 1897, when German otolaryngologist Gustav Killian performed the first bronchoscopy, using a rigid bronchoscope to successfully remove pig bones from the patient's throat. . The procedure was performed under local anesthesia and marked a breakthrough in endoscopic technology. Improvements since the 1930s have made bronchoscopy and related procedures safer and more effective. This technology has undergone tremendous evolution over the past few decades, especially since the introduction of flexible fiber optic bronchoscopes into medical practice in 1966, which greatly expanded the scope of bronchoscopy.
Types of bronchoscopy
Rigid bronchoscope
A rigid bronchoscope is a hollow metal tube used specifically to examine the lower respiratory tract. Modern uses of this test are mainly therapeutic, for example to remove aspirated foreign bodies or to control bleeding in cases of massive hemoptysis. Due to the larger diameter of the rigid bronchoscope, more invasive treatments such as electrocautery to stop bleeding can be performed.
Flexible bronchoscope
Flexible bronchoscopes are longer and thinner than rigid bronchoscopes and contain a fiber optic system that transmits images to a corresponding eyepiece or video camera. The flexible design allows physicians to easily navigate to different bronchial areas and sample possible abnormalities. In contrast, flexible bronchoscopy causes less physical discomfort to patients and is currently considered the technology of choice for most bronchial examinations.
Indications for bronchoscopy
Flexible bronchoscopy plays an important role in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of certain lung diseases. Diagnostic indications include:
- Check for abnormalities in the respiratory tract
- Obtain lung tissue samples for biopsy or other tests
- Assess for problems such as bleeding in the lungs, possible lung cancer, chronic cough, or sarcoid tumors
Therapeutic indications include removal of secretions, blood or foreign matter from the respiratory tract, and laser ablation of tumors or bronchial stenosis.
Bronchoscopic examination process
Bronchoscopies can be performed in a special examination room, operating room or intensive care unit. Patients typically receive tranquilizers and local anesthesia to reduce discomfort. The doctor inserts the bronchoscope into the patient's upper airway and works his way down through the loops in order to detect abnormalities and take samples. Flexible bronchoscopy can even be performed while the patient is intubated, providing more flexibility and safety.
Restore and apply
Although most patients tolerate bronchoscopy well, a brief period of observation after the procedure is required. Most complications manifest soon after surgery, such as difficulty breathing or swelling of the throat. In addition, for critically ill patients, bronchoscopy provides an effective management method that can be used flexibly in intensive care.
Complications and Risks
Bronchoscopy carries potential risks, and although these risks are relatively small in generally healthy patients, the likelihood of complications increases significantly in critically ill patients. Common complications include bleeding, pneumothorax, laryngospasm, etc. These risks often require careful monitoring and appropriate management.
With the development of modern medical technology, bronchoscopy has become an important tool for the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases. As people pay more attention to the health of the respiratory system, have you also begun to reflect on your understanding and understanding of lung health? Attention?
