Fibre Optic Bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedure used to examine the airways, including the trachea, bronchi, and lungs. It provides direct visualisation of the respiratory tract and enables sampling of tissues, secretions, or lesions for accurate diagnosis. The procedure is widely used in pulmonology for evaluating persistent cough, hemoptysis (coughing up blood), airway obstruction, chronic infections, lung tumours, and interstitial lung diseases. The procedure involves inserting a flexible bronchoscope equipped with a fibre optic camera through the nose or mouth, allowing the physician to visualise airway structures on a monitor. The bronchoscope has channels that enable suctioning, biopsy, brushings, and collection of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples for cytology, microbiology, or molecular testing. Therapeutic interventions, such as removal of foreign bodies, airway stenting, or laser therapy for tumours, can also be performed during bronchoscopy.

Fibre Optic Bronchoscopy is typically performed under local anaesthesia with conscious sedation or, in selected cases, under general anaesthesia. The procedure is safe, with minimal discomfort, and patients are monitored during and after the procedure for vital signs and potential complications such as bleeding or transient hypoxia. The duration usually ranges from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the complexity.

This service integrates closely with pulmonology, pathology, radiology, and thoracic surgery departments, ensuring comprehensive patient care. Fibre Optic Bronchoscopy provides critical information for early diagnosis, staging of lung cancer, assessment of infections, and evaluation of airway abnormalities. Its minimally invasive nature, combined with diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic capability, makes it an essential tool in modern respiratory medicine, significantly improving patient outcomes and guiding timely, effective treatment.