Home Care after Bronchoscopy
What to Expect
You may notice a mild soreness in your throat. You may wish to gargle with lightly salted water or suck on hard candy.
If tissue samples were taken, you may cough up a few streaks of blood. This should not last longer than the next morning. If it does, please call us.
At Home
- You must have an adult to take you home. You should not drive today.
- Do not drink alcohol. Do not take tranquilizers or sleeping pills tonight.
- Rest today. Do not use hazardous machinery. You may resume normal daily tasks tomorrow.
- You may resume your routine medicines unless told otherwise. Please check with the doctor after the exam to see if it's ok to resume taking aspirin, aspirin-like drugs, or blood thinners.
- You may resume your normal diet. Start out light to prevent nausea.
- There may be some soreness and redness at the IV site for a day or two. You can relieve this by placing a warm, moist washcloth over the area. Please contact your primary doctor if this does not improve in a couple of days.
- Do not make any important decisions today.
- Contact your doctor through the phone numbers listed below if you notice a fever of 100.4º F or above.
When to Go to the Nearest Emergency Room
- You are coughing up excess blood.
- Your coughing becomes extreme.
- You have chest pains or shortness of breath.
Phone Numbers
Please call your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
Doctor _____________________
Pulmonary Clinic: (608) 263-7203, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM,
GI Endoscopy/Bronchoscopy Procedures: (608) 263-8094.
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Pediatric Pulmonary Clinic (608) 263-6420, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
After clinic hours, the clinic phone number will be answered by the paging operator. Ask for the pulmonary doctor on call. Leave your name and phone number with the area code. The doctor will call you back.
If you live out of the area, please call 1-800-323-8942.
The Spanish version of this Health Facts for You is #6594.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 07/08/2011
Copyright © 06/08/2011 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#4599
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