Michigan Cares

“You’re already done?”

Parents often have that reaction when told their child is ready to go home after having a bronchoscopy performed at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

During bronchoscopy, a fiberoptic flexible tube (the bronchoscope) is inserted into the mouth and down into the airways, so an image can be seen on a television screen. Marc Hershenson, M.D., Director, Pediatric Pulmonology, says, “At the University of Michigan, this procedure can be accomplished more safely and provide additional information compared to other centers.” Hershenson is in part referring to the partnership between his department and anesthesiology. Unlike many other hospitals, pediatric patients at Mott Children’s Hospital are sedated by an anesthetist in the operating room. This way, the pulmonologist can concentrate on the child’s airways. A respiratory therapist also assists with the procedure. This team approach makes the procedure quicker and safer for patients.

Samya Nasr, M.D., Director, Cystic Fibrosis Center, and Director of Clinical Services, Pediatric Pulmonology, says, “It is a very informative procedure.”

Shelley Clifton, B.S., R.R.T., C.P.F.T., Manager, Pulmonary Function Lab, agrees. “It is an extremely important test,” she says. “Instead of trying to guess what’s occurring inside a patient’s lungs, you can actually perform flexible bronchoscopy to visualize and collect cultures from down inside the lower parts of the lung.”

This procedure helps to detect any infection in the lungs. For cystic fibrosis patients, the bronchoscope can be used to help clean the mucus out of their lungs.

Approximately 300 bronchoscopies are performed at Mott Children’s Hospital each year. Even if the bronchoscopy doesn’t detect anything unusual, the test is still important. “I tell parents that even with a totally normal bronchoscopy, that’s an answer,” says Nasr. Thanks to the teamwork at Mott Children’s Hospital, patients and parents are able to get quicker, easier answers.