Your Redemptive Healing by Jan McCray

Excellent reading for building strong faith in the healing power of God. Jan has a master's degree in religious education with emphasis in Judaic studies and a doctorate in biblical studies.

My Nokia Phone apps

 

2Day is a good app to track tasks to be completed. The tasks can be categorised.  Individual tasks can be given priority, due date, reminder, frequency, progress and notes. From the app one can send email, sms or call co-workers. 

Diagnostic Bronchoscopy

Common reasons to perform a bronchoscopy for diagnosis are:

• Lung growth, lymph node, atelectasis, or other changes seen on an x-ray or other imaging test
• Suspected interstitial lung disease
• Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
• Possible foreign object in the airway
• Cough that has lasted more than 3 months without any other explanation
• Infections in the lungs and bronchi that cannot be diagnosed any other way or need a certain type of diagnosis
• Inhaled toxic gas or chemical
• To diagnose a lung rejection after a lung transplant

You may also have a bronchoscopy to treat a lung or airway problem, such as to:

• Remove fluid or mucus plugs from your airways
• Remove a foreign object from your airways
• Widen (dilate) an airway that is blocked or narrowed
• Drain an abscess
• Treat cancer using a number of different techniques
• Wash out an airway (therapeutic lavage)

The main risks from bronchoscopy are:

• Bleeding from biopsy sites
• Infection

There is also a small risk of:

• Arrhythmias
• Breathing difficulties
• Fever
• Heart attack, in people with existing heart disease
• Low blood oxygen
• Pneumothorax
• Sore throat

In the rare instances when general anesthesia is used, there is some risk for:

• Muscle pain
• Change in blood pressure
• Slower heart rate
• Nausea
• Vomiting

There is a small risk for:

• Heart attack

When a biopsy is taken, there is a risk of severe bleeding (hemorrhage). Some bleeding is common. The technician or nurse will monitor the amount of bleeding.
There is a risk of choking if anything (including water) is swallowed before the numbing medicine wears off.

Here is a 7 minute video on diagnostic bronchoscopy.  It shows a tumour being biopsied.  This video is shown to my patients before consent for the procedure is taken.

Warning:  Do not view if you are afraid of blood.