For the procedure, the physician will use a bronchoscope. Bronchoscope is a device that the physician will use to see the inside of the airways and lungs. The scope is passed through your mouth or nose, down to your trachea also known as windpipe and into your lungs. When a flexible bronchoscope is used, you will probably be awake but sedated, through the whole procedure. If a rigid scope is used, most likely you will be under general anesthesia.

• You will get medications through a vein (intravenously) to help you relax. Or you may be go under general anesthesia, especially if a rigid scope is used.

• If the bronchoscopy will be inserted through the nose, numbing jelly will be placed in one nostril or a numbing drug will be sprayed in your mouth and throat.

• The scope is softly inserted. Probably it will make you cough at first. Once the medication begins to work, the coughing will stop. Your physician, will probably conduct saline solution through the tube. Saline solution washes the lungs allowing the doctor to collect samples fluids, lung cells, and other materials inside the air sacs. This part of the procedure is called a lavage.

• Sometimes, needles, forceps, or tiny brushes, may be passed through the bronchoscope to take very small tissue samples (biopsies) from your lungs.

• The doctor can look the lungs with an ultrasound, or can also place a stent in the airway during the process.

• Ultrasound can be used to view the lymph nodes and tissues around the airways.