Connect
← Return to Airway Clearance Help and Bronchoscopy Prep
Discussion
Airway Clearance Help and Bronchoscopy Prep
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Dec 26, 2023 | Replies (7)Comment receiving replies
jml6812 @jml6812 What is the reason for the second bronchoscopy? Have you've been leaving regular sputum samples? Have you had a CT scan?
Diagnoses of bronchiectasis and pseudomonas and MAC for that matter are made by sputum cultures, CT scans and clinical symptoms. I am not sure that a bronchoscopy is necessary especially since you've had one recently.
Lots of folks here have had them and hopefully you'll hear from them. Lung Matters Facebook group discourages bronchoscopies because they think that the bronchoscopy equipment cannot be properly sterilized. They think there's a risk to "pick up" something from a prior patient. Some of these germs are only killed by boiling and hospitals/clinics generally do not use boiling for sterilizing. I would encourage you to read about what they have to say but keep in mind they tend to be "absolutists".
In the meantime keep clearing your lungs twice a day!
Replies to "jml6812 @jml6812 What is the reason for the second bronchoscopy? Have you've been leaving regular sputum..."
I’ve had three ct scans and the cultures for the diagnosis. I’m not sure, but I think the new pulmonologist wanted to re-do cultures and basically start over. I’m assuming that sputum samples will happen after that.
Thanks for the info on the broncoscopes. I’ll definitely ask.
Connect
I would like to add a Welcome to Mayo Connect - it sounds like you have already absorbed a lot of information.
It is difficult to say why the second doc wants to do a bronchoscopy, but I suspect she may want to confirm exactly which MAC variant you have, and in which lobe(s). Abscessus requires different drugs than typical MAC. If you are producing enough sputum to culture, maybe you can ask why a repeat bronchoscopy is necessary?
Let me try to put your mind at ease a bit about infection risk. Once it was discovered that bronchoscopes were a potential source of infection, many places have switched to using sterile, disposable parts that are inserted into your body - you can ask the facility where the procedure will be done. When the lavage is performed, sterile saline is injected and then suctioned out, so they will actually be removing mucus and not spreading it around. A
When I had both MAC and Pseudomonas, my green/brown sputum changed to yellow after the pseudomonas was treated. But it did not get clear until months into treatment for MAC.
Sue