Bronchoscopy and Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL): MedlinePlus Medical Test

What are bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)?

Bronchoscopy is a procedure that lets a health treatment service provider to glance at your lungs. It makes use of a slender, lighted tube known as a bronchoscope. The tube is put as a result of the mouth or nose and moved down the throat and into the airways. It aids diagnose and treat selected lung illnesses.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a procedure that is often finished throughout a bronchoscopy. It is also known as bronchoalveolar washing. BAL is utilised to acquire a sample from the lungs for screening. For the duration of the procedure, a saline remedy is put as a result of the bronchoscope to clean the airways and capture a fluid sample.

Other names: flexible bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar washing