3. Bleeding: Taking small pieces of tissue from the airways and 
brushing the lungs with a fine brush can cause bleeding. The 
bleeding is usually minor and stops quickly. Very occasionally the 
bleeding is more severe. The bronchoscope can be used to 
temporarily plug the bleeding airway and to encourage the bleeding 
to stop or a dilute epinephrine solution can be injected through the 
bronchoscope. Rarely, less than 1% of the time, the bleeding is 
more severe. In such cases, it is unusual for a blood transfusion to 
be used. Severe bleeding of this type has never occurred in our 
experience with patients who have normal blood clotting and who 
don’t have cancer. 
4. Pneumothorax: When pieces of tissue are removed from the airway, 
sometimes an air leak develops which can result in a collapsed lung. 
The leak allows the lung to collapse either completely or partially. 
If the lung were to collapse completely, a tube would need to be 
inserted through an incision between the ribs to remove the air. If 
used, the tube stays in place for 3-5 days until the air leak stops. It 
is rare for healthy patients receiving bronchoscopy with biopsy to 
develop a pneumothorax, and the risk of this is less than 1%. 
5. Respiratory Arrest: Cessation of breathing during the bronchoscopy 
could occur as a response to the intravenous sedation that I will 
receive. This has not been encountered to date in cystic fibrosis 
patients undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy with the procedure that 
will be used. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure will be 
closely monitored throughout the procedure. Emergency equipment 
is immediately available if needed. 
6. Feverh After washings of the lower airway, it is possible for fever to 
develop within the next 24 hours. I have about a 1 in 20 chance of 
developing this problem. 
7. Deterioration in Pulmonary Function: Repeated bronchoscopy 
could lead to a deterioration in pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis. 
It is not standard care for CF patients to receive 18 bronchoscopies 
in 4 months, and the passing of the instruments through the airways 
could cause inflammation, irritation, or an increase in infection. 
However, repeated bronchoscopies have been performed in 
relationship to clinical research in CF, and complications have been 
rare in skilled hands. 
Risks Related to the Virus: 
It is possible that the virus could cause the following complications: 
Recombinant DNA Research, Volume 17 
