We offer Endobronchial Ultrasound at our Credit Valley Hospital location.
Endobronchial Ultrasound is a procedures that is done during a Bronchoscopy. In an Endobronchial Ultrasound a doctor passes a thin flexible tube with a special ultrasound probe on the end of it through your mouth or nose into the major airways of the lungs. Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves that bounce off internal tissues and produce echoes. These echoes travel back to a monitor where they make a picture of the body tissue being examined. This allows the doctor to:
- examine the insides of the airways of your lungs
- create pictures of the airways of your lungs
- take a small piece of tissue so that it can be examined under a microscope (this is called a biopsy)
Endobronchial Ultrasound can be used to diagnose:
- lung cancer
- lung infections
other diseases that cause enlarged lymph nodes or masses in the chest
Referrals
A referral from a doctor is required.
Resources for Patients & Their Families
How to Prepare for an Endobronchial Ultrasound
Do NOT eat or drink after midnight the evening before the test. You need to have an empty stomach for the test. You may take your usual medications on the morning of the test with a sip of water only.
What to Expect During an Endobronchial Ultrasound
A bronchoscope is a thin flexible tube with a light at the end that is connected to a video monitor. The tube is inserted through your mouth or nose and is directed into your trachea. Your throat will be sprayed with an anesthetic medication to numb it before the tube is inserted.
This scope can look at your lymph nodes and your doctor will be able to take samples of the tissues using a needle. The procedure takes approximately 1 hour.
What Happens After an Endobronchial Ultrasound
Your throat may be a little sore for a day or so afterwards. You may feel sleepy for several hours because of the sedative. You may also cough up a little blood for a couple of days following the test.
Are There Any Possible Complications?
This procedure is very safe. It only very rarely causes damage, infection or bleeding in the lung. You should call your family doctor if:
- You have chest pain that doesn't settle after a couple of days
- You continue to cough up blood for more than a few days following the test
