Pediatric Pulmonology
Hasbro Children's Hospital

Going home: what to expect

Your child may be sleepy after the procedure. It is fine to let him or her sleep as much as needed. Your child can return to his or her routines the day after the test. You may feed your child as soon as they wake up. At first, give clear liquids and then slowly give formula or solid food to make sure that swallowing is not a problem.

After the bronchoscopy, your child may have a fever, which is normal and expected. It may reach 103°F or higher. Make sure you have acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen on hand to treat any discomfort from the fever or throat pain. Call your pediatrician or pediatric pulmonologist if the fever is not resolved after 24 hours. Unless your child wakes up, you do not need to check for a temperature during the night.

The results of cultures and other tests should be back in about four to five days. Your pediatric pulmonologist or nurse will call you with the results and let you know if your child needs to be started on medicine. Please make sure to leave us with the best phone number and time to reach you.

When to call your doctor

Call your pediatric pulmonologist if you have any questions or concerns or if your child experiences trouble breathing in the first 24 hours after the procedure. You can reach your doctor by calling 401-444-4000 and asking for her or him by name during the 24 hours after the procedure.