Bronchoscope
The expression “it’s
as natural as breathing” is widely used to describe processes that are so
automatic and essential that we don’t give them a second thought. For the
millions of Canadians afflicted by serious lung disease, however, breathing
itself becomes a difficult and even dangerous task, making pulmonary disease
the third leading cause of death in
When a physician
suspects that a patient may be suffering from lung disease, a bronchoscopy is
often performed to inspect the airways and retrieve a tissue sample. During
this procedure, a diagnostic instrument called a bronchoscope is passed through
the patient’s mouth or nose and into the lungs. The bronchoscope is a thin,
flexible tube used to view the lungs’ air passages. It contains small clear
fibres that transmit light images as the tube bends, allowing the physician to
look for abnormalities such as foreign bodies, bleeding, tumours or
inflammation. An accurate diagnosis and early intervention allows many patients
with pulmonary conditions like asthma, emphysema and lung cancer to be
effectively treated and go on to lead normal, healthy lives.
With the MUHC treating
thousands of these patients every year, an accurate diagnosis is in greater
demand than ever. The purchase of more bronchoscopes, at a cost of
approximately $25,000 each, will help meet this need and make breathing easier,
something that people with lung disease will surely look forward to.
This series is
intended to be informative. The McGill University Health Centre Foundation does
not endorse any particular manufacturer or model of the equipment shown and
described here.
