Bronchoscopy Post Lung Transplantation

The post-operative care of lung transplant patients is complex with the main goal of management being the preservation of allograft function. Being able to perform bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage as well as trans-bronchial biopsy (TBBX) as part of the routine investigation of a drop in lung function greater than 20% is a vital skill for clinicians caring for lung transplant recipients. Bronchoscopy provides clinicians with a rich source of microbiological, cytological, and histological sampling thereby enhancing the ability to make an accurate diagnosis, particularly the differentiation of rejection from infection or the presence of both. The following chapter aims to provide an insight into the use of bronchoscopy post lung transplantation.