How does bronchoscopy allow doctors to examine the airways?

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Medical illustration of the human chest showing the lungs, diaphragm, ribs, trachea, bronchus, and bronchioles, with one lung cut away to reveal internal structures. — respiratory disease The bronchioles of the lungs are the site where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide during the process of respiration. Inflammation, infection, or obstruction of the bronchioles is often associated with acute or chronic respiratory disease, including bronchiectasis, pneumonia, and lung abscesses.

Bronchoscopy is a medical procedure used to examine bronchial tissues by inserting a lighted instrument called a bronchoscope into the airways. This tool allows doctors to visualize the trachea and lungs in real-time, often using an attached video camera.1

There are two primary types of bronchoscopes:

Flexible Bronchoscopes: These consist of a flexible tube with fibre-optic rods that project light. Because they can bend and twist, they are used to navigate bronchial passageways down to the tertiary bronchi.1
Rigid Bronchoscopes: These are metal tubes featuring a wide suction channel, which is particularly effective for removing large volumes of fluid or foreign objects from the central airways.1

Both types of scopes include a channel that allows doctors to pass instruments through for procedures such as a biopsy, which involves collecting tissue samples for histological study. This diagnostic tool is essential for investigating respiratory disease and can also be used therapeutically to clear airway blockages or deliver medication.1