The Centre for Bronchology (respiratory endoscopy) is one of the most modern bronchology centres in the region, and definitely the most modern respiratory endoscopy centre in our country. In the last five-year period, over 2,500 diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy procedures using a fiber or rigid bronchoscope were performed in a year. All bronchoscopy procedures are performed in analgesic sedation, and interventional procedures in total anaesthesia.

In addition to standard diagnostic endoscopy procedures of lung tissue sampling for histo- and cytopathology or bacteriology (transbronchial biopsy, transbronchial puncture, bronchobiopsy, catheter biopsy, bronchial brush and bronchoalveolar lavage), bronchoscopies using a linear and radial endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) are also performed in the Centre.

The linear ultrasound probe enables an operator to visualize the structures surrounding the large airways, thus facilitating localisation and sampling (in the real time) of mediastinal lymph nodes, aimed at the most precise evaluation of lung cancer spread (disease staging), which is crucial for deciding about further treatment of a patient.

In addition, autofluorescence imaging (AFI) and narrow band imaging (NBI), detecting pre-malignant lesions within the bronchial tree, i.e. detecting pathological tumour vascularisation, are also performed in the Centre. The following interventional endoscopy procedures are also performed in the Bronchology Centre of the Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina: laser resection of tumorous lesions in the bronchial tree, electrocauteruisation, argon-plasma coagulation, brachitherapy, sclerosation of tracheobronchial fistulae and cryotherapy. Since last year, the patients undergoing rigid bronchoscopy and interventional endoscopy procedures in the Centre have been ventilated by a modern high frequency jet ventilator which considerably facilitates interventional procedures.