Bronchoscopic Techniques Research Articles

Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (RAB) is a newly developed bronchoscopic technique for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). The objective of this meta-analysis was to analyze the diagnostic yield and safety of RAB in patients with PPLs. Five databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov) were searched from inception to April 2023. Two independent investigators screened retrieved articles, extracted data, and assessed the study quality. The pooled diagnostic yield and complication rate were estimated. Subgroup analysis was used to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and the Egger test. Sensitivity analysis was also conducted to assess the robustness of the synthesized results. A total of 725 lesions from 10 studies were included in this meta-analysis. No publication bias was found. Overall, RAB had a pooled diagnostic yield of 80.4% (95% CI: 75.7%-85.1%). Lesion size of >30 mm, presence of a bronchus sign, and a concentric radial endobronchial ultrasound view were associated with a statistically significantly higher diagnostic yield. Heterogeneity exploration showed that studies using cryoprobes reported better yields than those without cryoprobes (90.0%, 95% CI: 83.2%-94.7% vs. 79.0%, 95% CI: 75.8%-82.2%, p < 0.01). The pooled complication rate was 3.0% (95% CI: 1.6%-4.4%). In conclusion, RAB is an effective and safe technique for PPLs diagnosis. Further high-quality prospective studies still need to be conducted.

Video gamers demonstrate superior bronchoscopy skills among beginners

While previous research has explored the connection between video gaming and medical procedures, studies on the connection between video gaming and bronchoscopy techniques are lacking. This study aimed to investigate how video gaming experience influences bronchoscopy skills, particularly among beginners. This study was conducted at Fukujuji Hospital from January 2021 to October 2023. Twenty-three participants were assigned to the inexperienced group, and eighteen participants were assigned to the experienced group. The observational time during bronchoscopy, measured using a simulator, and the playing time of SPLATOON 2 (NINTENDO Co. Ltd., Japan) were analyzed. Video gaming skills were assessed based on game completion time, with shorter times indicating faster task completion. Participants were also divided into gamer and nongamer subgroups for further comparisons. A moderate linear relationship existed between bronchoscopic observation time and game completion time in the inexperienced group (r = 0.453, p = 0.030). However, no correlation was found in the experienced group (r = 0.268, p = 0.283). Among the inexperienced group, the gamer subgroup (n = 12) exhibited significantly shorter bronchoscopic observation times than did the nongamer subgroup (n = 11) (median [range]: 200 [129–229] s) vs. 281 [184–342] s, p = 0.005). This study demonstrated a relationship between bronchoscopy technique and video gaming skills among individuals with little bronchoscopy experience.

Case Report: A Severe Asthma Symptom with Biological Medication

Research from Sindh Pakistan showed that 15% of patients are in therapy phases, many based on data from the specialized literature. According to the Global Initiative for Asthma, around 9.8% of grownup females and 6.1% of the male population suffer from asthma. In this instance, a 31-year-old patient who has had bronchial asthma for more than ten years and who has never had occupational exposure to the condition is presenting with persistent dyspnea at rest, wheezing, and mechanical ventilation. This patient has also had multiple hospitalizations in the Pneumology Service for severe exacerbations. One of these exacerbations required hospitalization in the Anesthesia and Intensive Care Service, orotracheal intubation, and mechanical ventilation manifesting with chest tightness, wheezing, and persistent dyspnea when at rest and obstructive ventilatory dysfunction with a 37.57% decrease in maximum expiratory volume per second and 156% reversibility. No acute lesions on the X-ray pleuropulmonary: 13,550 leukocytes; 5566 eosinophils per milliliter; 4107%. Allergy caused by immunoglobulin E (IgE) confirmed, and IgE total of 513 IU/L, no sensitivities to skin prick testing, according to an allergy consultation and epithelial allergy, herbatum, and fumigatus specific IgE. Bronchoscopic techniques were used to rule out pulmonary aspergillosis, and mycological tests came back negative. Treatment with omalizumab 300 mg per month began, with no need for hospitalizations, exacerbations, or systemic corticosteroid therapy

Diagnostic Yield vs Diagnostic Accuracy for Peripheral Lung Biopsy Evaluation: Evidence Supporting a Future Pragmatic End Point

Diagnostic yield and accuracy endpoints have been used inconsistently in the evaluation of advanced diagnostic bronchoscopy devices and techniques, limiting between-study comparisons. In addition, diagnostic accuracy can only be adjudicated after prolonged clinical follow-up which delays reporting on the performance of novel devices. Will a conservative diagnostic yield definition would result in few false negative initial results to closely approximate diagnostic accuracy and represent a useful outcome for future studies of diagnostic utility? Commonly utilized definitions of diagnostic yield were applied to a prospective dataset of consecutive peripheral pulmonary lesions sampled by navigational bronchoscopy from 2017 to 2019. All consider malignancy to be diagnostic but differ in their classification of non-malignant biopsy findings, which were subcategorized as specific benign, nonspecific benign, or normal lung. Diagnostic yield calculations were also compared to diagnostic accuracy, defined as the proportion of biopsies deemed diagnostic by each definition that were confirmed accurate through two years of follow-up. A total of 450 biopsied lesions were analyzed. The prevalence of malignancy was 60.9% (274 of 450). On initial bronchoscopy pathology, there were 227 malignant diagnoses (50.4%), with a single false-positive (0.4%). Among 104 biopsies with specific benign findings, only two were false negative for malignancy (1.9%). There were 119 nonspecific benign biopsies with 46 false negatives for malignancy (38.7%). The discrepancy between diagnostic yield and accuracy was 0.7% for the conservative definition which only considered malignant or specific benign findings as diagnostic. A conservative diagnostic yield definition excluding nonspecific benign diagnoses closely approximated diagnostic accuracy through two years follow-up, with a less than 1% discrepancy. Using this conservative yield definition may allow for dissemination of reliable diagnostic utility data without protracted delays needed for follow-up data in this era of rapid technological change in advanced diagnostic bronchoscopy.

Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy for evaluating high-altitude pulmonary edema in canines

BackgroundReal-time assessment of high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) remains a challenge. Probe-based confocal laser microscopy (pCLE) allows a real-time in vivo visualization of the alveoli. This study aimed to develop a new non-invasive method for analyzing microscopic images in a canine model of HAPE using pCLE. Materials and methodsThis was a prospective, controlled animal study in adult male beagle dogs randomized to control and HAPE groups. The HAPE group was exposed to a high altitude of 6000 m for 48 h. The blood gas levels, lung morphological changes, infectious factors, and lung wet-to-dry ratio were analyzed in different groups. The pCLE images were described based on the volume air index (VAI), which applies an integral over specific signal intensities. ResultsThe lung wet-to-dry weight ratio and injury scores in the HAPE group were significantly increased compared with those of the control group. The levels of infectious factors interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 were significantly increased in the HAPE group compared with those in the control group. VAI was significantly decreased in the HAPE group. ConclusionpCLE is a potential adjudicative bronchoscopic imaging technique for assessing HAPE. VAI may be acquired from quantitative parameters in the analysis of images.

Utility of Virtual Bronchoscopy in Tracheal Tumors.

Tracheal tumors are rare neoplasms, most of which are malignant. Conventional bronchoscopy (CB) and biopsy are used in the primary evaluation of these tumors, while Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) is usually used for assessing extraluminal extension and nodal spread. Virtual bronchoscopy, created by postprocessing the three-dimensional volume data acquired from CECT, attempts to recreate the endoluminal features as seen in CB. The complexity of tracheal surgery necessitates accurate preoperative localization of the lesion and planning. It can assist in evaluation of patients in whom CB cannot be performed and for airway assessment in a preoperative setting. Although it cannot replace CB, it can be resorted to, in specific clinical scenarios. In this pictorial essay, we aim to highlight the technique, role, and clinical utility of Virtual Bronchoscopy (VB) in tracheal tumors.

Diagnostic Yield of Cone-beam-Derived Augmented Fluoroscopy and Ultrathin Bronchoscopy Versus Conventional Navigational Bronchoscopy Techniques.

Pulmonary nodules suspicious for lung cancer are frequently diagnosed. Evaluating and optimizing the diagnostic yield of lung nodule biopsy is critical as innovation in bronchoscopy continues to progress. This is a retrospective cohort study. Consecutive patients undergoing guided bronchoscopy for suspicious pulmonary nodule(s) between February 2020 and July 2021 were included. The cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)+ radial endobronchial ultrasound (r-EBUS) group had their procedure using CBCT-derived augmented fluoroscopy along with r-EBUS. The CBCT+ ultrathin bronchoscope (UTB)+r-EBUS group had the same procedure but with the use of an ultrathin bronchoscope. The r-EBUS group underwent r-EBUS guidance without CBCT or augmented fluoroscopy. We used multivariable logistic regression to compare diagnostic yield, adjusting for confounding variables. A total of 116 patients were included. The median pulmonary lesion diameter was 19.5mm (interquartile range, 15.0 to 27.5mm), and 91 (78.4%) were in the peripheral half of the lung. Thirty patients (25.9%) underwent CBCT+UTB, 27 (23.3%) CBCT, and 59 (50.9%) r-EBUS alone with unadjusted diagnostic yields of 86.7%, 70.4%, and 42.4%, respectively ( P <0.001). The adjusted diagnostic yields were 85.0% (95% CI, 68.6% to 100%), 68.3% (95% CI, 50.1% to 86.6%), and 44.5% (95% CI, 31.0% to 58.0%), respectively. There was significantly more virtual navigational bronchoscopy use in the r-EBUS group (45.8%) compared with the CBCT+UTB (13.3%) and CBCT (18.5%) groups, respectively. CBCT procedures required dose area product radiation doses of 7602.5µGym 2 . Compared with the r-EBUS group, CBCT + UTB + r-EBUS was associated with higher navigational success, fewer nondiagnostic biopsy results, and a higher diagnostic yield. CBCT procedures are associated with a considerable radiation dose.

Autonomous medical needle steering in vivo.

The use of needles to access sites within organs is fundamental to many interventional medical procedures both for diagnosis and treatment. Safely and accurately navigating a needle through living tissue to a target is currently often challenging or infeasible because of the presence of anatomical obstacles, high levels of uncertainty, and natural tissue motion. Medical robots capable of automating needle-based procedures have the potential to overcome these challenges and enable enhanced patient care and safety. However, autonomous navigation of a needle around obstacles to a predefined target in vivo has not been shown. Here, we introduce a medical robot that autonomously navigates a needle through living tissue around anatomical obstacles to a target in vivo. Our system leverages a laser-patterned highly flexible steerable needle capable of maneuvering along curvilinear trajectories. The autonomous robot accounts for anatomical obstacles, uncertainty in tissue/needle interaction, and respiratory motion using replanning, control, and safe insertion time windows. We applied the system to lung biopsy, which is critical for diagnosing lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. We demonstrated successful performance of our system in multiple in vivo porcine studies achieving targeting errors less than the radius of clinically relevant lung nodules. We also demonstrated that our approach offers greater accuracy compared with a standard manual bronchoscopy technique. Our results show the feasibility and advantage of deploying autonomous steerable needle robots in living tissue and how these systems can extend the current capabilities of physicians to further improve patient care.

Real-World Impact of Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy on the Staging and Diagnosis of Lung Cancer: The Shape of Current and Potential Opportunities.

The approach to peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL) has been evolving continuously. Advanced bronchoscopic navigational techniques have improved the airway-based approaches to these lesions. Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy (RAB) can be considered the current pinnacle of this evolution; allowing for a safer approach to sampling lesions previously considered outside of bronchoscopic reach. We present a comprehensive review of the changing epidemiology of lung cancer and the importance of early tissue sampling, the evolution of sampling and navigational bronchoscopic techniques, technical considerations and evidence pertaining to the use of RAB, and adjunct techniques in the diagnosis of lung cancer. Complications and future applications of RAB are also discussed.

Lung volume reduction for emphysema using one-way endobronchial valves: An Australian cohort.

Emphysema can be associated with gas trapping and hyperinflation, which negatively impacts on quality of life, life expectancy, and functional capacity. Lung volume reduction (LVR) surgery can reduce gas trapping and improve mortality in select patients but carries a high risk of major complications. Bronchoscopic techniques for LVR using one-way endobronchial valves (EBV) have become an established efficacious alternative to surgery. A bi-center retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with severe emphysema who underwent endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) using Pulmonx Zephyr EBVs. Symptomatic patients with gas-trapping and hyperinflation on lung function testing were selected. Target-lobe selection was based on quantitative imaging analysis and ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy. Successful procedures were determined from clinical review, imaging and follow-up testing. Thirty-nine patients underwent ELVR. Mean pre-procedure forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was 0.75 L, residual volume (RV) was 225% predicted and total lung capacity was 129% predicted. Most common treated-lobe was left upper lobe. Post-procedure pneumothorax occurred in 36.5% of patients with 73% requiring intercostal catheter insertion for drainage. Mean FEV1 improvement was +140 mL and 57% of patients achieved minimal clinical important difference FEV1 increase of ≥12%. Maximal mean RV change was -1010 mL with 69% of patients achieving minimal clinical important difference RV decrease of ≥350 mL. Clinician-determined success of ELVR was 78%. Procedure-related mortality was absent. LVR using EBVs is safe and can lead to significant improvements in lung function, particularly reduction of gas trapping and hyperinflation. Occurrence of pneumothorax post-procedure is a complication that must be monitored for and managed appropriately.

In vivo polarisation sensitive optical coherence tomography for fibrosis assessment in interstitial lung disease: a prospective, exploratory, observational study

IntroductionEndobronchial polarisation sensitive optical coherence tomography (EB-PS-OCT) is a bronchoscopic imaging technique exceeding resolution of high-resolution CT (HRCT) by 50-fold. It detects collagen birefringence, enabling identification and quantification of fibrosis.Study...

The development, validation, and in vivo testing of a high-precision bronchial epithelial lining fluid sampling device.

Analysis of respiratory biomarkers or pharmaceutical drug concentrations in bronchial epithelial lining fluid (bELF) using a high-precision sampling method is crucial for effective clinical respiratory diagnostics and research. Here, we utilized a cellulose matrix as an absorptive probe for bELF sampling, subsequently testing the design of a device and sampling technique in vivo. The absorptive matrix [Whatman® qualitative filter paper (Grade CF-12)] was first tested through tissue-contact experiments on porcine airway tissue. The absorption and elution capacity of the matrix, as well as the laboratory processing and analysis method, was validated with a range of Interleukin-8 (CXCL8) and C-Reactive protein (CRP) stock solutions. Subsequently, the device's design was optimized for universal in-house production and both, safe and efficient sampling. The airway sampling method was then tested in a group of 10 patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). For each patient, a bELF sample was obtained using the newly developed bELF probe, as well as a reference 20 mL saline bronchial wash sample. Supernatants were assessed, using an immunoassay, for levels of the pro-inflammatory markers CXCL8, Myeloperoxidase (MPO), and CRP. The bELF samples were compared to bronchial wash. The Whatman® qualitative filter paper (Grade CF-12) bELF probes adhered to porcine airway tissue, softening slightly upon wetting. The material maintained architectural integrity following the removal of the probes, leaving no residual fibers on the porcine airway mucosa. The bELF probe design was optimized for bronchoscopic delivery and in-house production. On average, a fully saturated bELF probe carried 32 μL of protein-rich fluid. The mean return of CXCL8 and CRP from samples collected from a serial dilution series (1, 5, 10, 20 ng/mL) was 69% (range 48%-87%). The bELF probe detected, on average, 7 (MPO), 14 (CRP), and 59 (CXCL8) times higher equivalent inflammatory protein concentrations in the collected bELF probe samples compared to the bronchial wash. The bELF probe is an effective absorptive technology for high-precision bELF sampling without dilution. With a simple in-house production procedure and bronchoscopic sampling technique, this method can be introduced in any bronchoscopic center for a consistent sampling of bELF.

Toluidine Blue Stain as a Rapid Onsite Tool for Preliminary Diagnosis in Imprint Smears of Bronchoscopic Biopsy: A Cytohistopathological Correlation.

Introduction Lung cancer is currently the most common cause of cancer-related mortality, with 11.4% of cancers and 18% of cancer-related deaths worldwide whereas Indian figures are 6.9 and 9.3%, respectively. Hence, the need for early diagnosis. Bronchial biopsy has the highest sensitivity among all the samples that can be obtained by bronchoscopic techniques in case of endobronchial lesions. Imprint cytology has emerged as an important cytological method. Toluidine blue has been studied for its use as rapid onsite stain for cytological evaluation on various samples of cytology in different anatomic sites. This has helped in quick and less expensive, preliminary reporting. Objectives This article aims to assess the efficacy of onsite toluidine blue stain on imprint smears of bronchoscopic biopsies to diagnose malignancy in suspected cases of lung carcinoma. Study Type Prospective study on accuracy of a diagnostic test. Materials and Methods A total of 100 cases of bronchoscopy were included in the study. The patients were clinico-radiologically suspected to have brochogenic carcinoma and all of them were subjected to biopsy. Imprint smears were prepared from the bronchoscopy biopsy specimens. Smears were stained onsite with toluidine blue stain, and histopathology sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, also confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Results Sensitivity and specificity of onsite toluidine blue stain for malignancy reporting were 97.9 and 80%, respectively, when compared to histopathology as standard. Conclusion Toluidine blue can be used as an onsite staining method on imprint smears of bronchoscopic biopsy for preliminary detection of lung malignancy.

Possibilities of simulation training of bronchoscopy on a phantom

Simulation training in medicine has proven to be an initial method for mastering practical skills and transferring them to the marginal conditions. Since 2016, accreditation of specialists created for these purposes, including endoscopists and thoracic surgeons, has been carried out, the list of labor obligations includes the performance of bronchoscopy. At the moment, in the domestic literature there are only a few publications on the role of simulation training in mastering the skills of bronchoscopy. The simulation center on the basis of the St. Petersburg Research Institute of Phthisiopulmonology wasestablished in 2018. Considering all of the above, it seems relevant to discuss the results of using the phantom in teaching the bronchoscopy technique, which was the purpose of this work.

Clinical application of flexible bronchoscopy in the treatment of airway foreign body

Airway foreign body is the unintentional entry of objects into the larynx, trachea, or bronchi, causing airway obstruction, severe coughing, wheezing, breathing difficulties, or even asphyxiation. It is a common emergency condition in respiratory, critical care, emergency, otolaryngology, and pediatric departments, etc. With the popularization of flexible bronchoscopic techniques, endoscopic foreign body removal has been widely used in adults and children. The combined application of various instruments, such as alligator forceps, mesh baskets, balloons, and cryoprobes could safely and effectively remove foreign body. This article briefly described the treatment modalities for airway foreign body and summarized effective approaches using flexible bronchoscopy in its treatment.

Bronchoscopic Management of COPD and Advances in Therapy.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a highly prevalent and morbid disease marked by irreversible structural changes in the lungs. Bronchoscopic therapies have significantly expanded the treatment armamentarium for patients with persistent symptoms by reducing the physiologic detriments of hyperinflation in a less invasive fashion than surgical lung volume reduction. The spectrum of bronchoscopic techniques to reduce hyperinflation includes endobronchial valves, coils, thermal ablation, and biologic sealants. Other therapies focus on reducing parasympathetic tone and mucus hypersecretion and include targeted lung denervation, bronchial rheoplasty, and cryospray techniques. In this article, we will review the variety of techniques for bronchoscopic lung volume reduction, both established and investigational, along with their respective benefits and complications and will briefly review other investigational therapies for COPD.

A Comparative Study of Nasal Fiberoptic Intubation with Laryngeal Mask Airway Fiberoptic Intubation in Children with a Difficult Airway

Background: Considering that the gold standard for intubation in children with a difficult airway is the use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy, and few studies have evaluated its application in children, the present study aimed at comparing two bronchoscopic techniques of nasal fiberoptic tracheal intubation (FOI-Nasal) and fiberoptic intubation via laryngeal mask airway (FOI-LMA) in children with a difficult airway.&#x0D; Methods: A single-blind randomized clinical trial was performed on 40 six-month-old to six-year-old children that were divided into two groups each consisting of 20 patients. The participants were all candidates for elective surgery with clinical criteria for the anticipated difficult intubation. FOI-Nasal and FOI-LMA were performed in the first and second groups, respectively. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and blood oxygen saturation levels (SpO2) were assessed and recorded before anesthesia (T1), immediately before bronchoscopy (T2), and immediately after intubation with endotracheal tube (T3). Moreover, ETCO2, the first successful insertion attempt, and the intubation time were recorded, as well.&#x0D; Results: The results of the present study revealed that parameters including MAP, HR, and SpO2 at times T1, T2, and T3 were not significantly different between the two groups after adjusting for potential confounding factors (P&gt; 0.05). However, ETCO2 in FOI-Nasal group with a mean of 38.40 ± 3.57 was significantly higher than that of the FOI-LMA group with a mean of 34.35 ± 3.15 (P = 0.001). In addition, the intubation time in the FOI-LMA group with a mean of 32.40 ± 7.45 was significantly shorter than that of the FOI-Nasal group with a mean of 51.75 ± 9.97 (P &lt;0.001). The success rate in the first attempt in the FOI-Nasal group with the value of 70% was lower than that of the FOI-LMA group with the value of 90%; however, this difference was not statistically significant (P&gt; 0.05).&#x0D; Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, the intubation time in the FOI-LMA group was significantly shorter than that of the FOI-Nasal group. Moreover, the success rate of the first attempt in the FOI-LMA group was higher than that of the FOI-Nasal group. Therefore, it can be stated that FOI-LMA as compared to FOI-Nasal can be regarded as an easier technique, with a shorter intubation time, a higher success rate, and a greater stability of children’s hemodynamic parameters.

Hypoxemia After Endobronchial Valve Deployment for Persistent Air Leak

Endobronchial valves (EBVs) are a novel, minimally invasive bronchoscopic management technique for persistent air leaks that fail conservative therapy. Currently, 2 EBVs are available in the United States: the Spiration Valve System (Olympus, Redmond, WA) and the Zephyr Valve (Pulmonx, Redwood, CA). These valves are Food and Drug Administration-approved to reduce hyperinflation in emphysematous patients via bronchoscopic lung-volume reduction. However, more recently, the Spiration Valve has been granted a compassionate use exemption through the Food and Drug Administration for persistent postsurgical air leaks. Despite their popularity, these devices are not free from side effects. As an anesthesiologist, it is vital to be aware of the pathophysiology of this patient population so that safe and effective anesthetics may be provided during valve placement. Here, the use of EBVs is discussed in a patient who presented with a persistent air leak after a transthoracic needle aspiration that failed treatment due to persistent hypoxemia, warranting EBV removal.

Ten-Year Outcome and Development of Virtual-Assisted Lung Mapping in Thoracic Surgery

Virtual-assisted lung mapping (VAL-MAP) is a preoperative bronchoscopic multispot dye-marking technique used in sublobar lung resection of barely palpable lung nodules. This review summarizes the history and outcomes of the VAL-MAP procedure. VAL-MAP was developed in 2012, and long-term outcomes of lung resection using VAL-MAP have recently been verified. Problems associated with conventional VAL-MAP include a prerequisite of post-mapping computed tomography (CT), occasional inability to see dye marks during surgery, and infrequent resection failure due to deep resection margins; various techniques have been developed to address these issues. VAL-MAP using electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy with on-site adjustment can omit post-mapping CT. The use of indocyanine green in VAL-MAP has increased the success rate of marking detection during surgery without causing additional complications. VAL-MAP 2.0-a three-dimensional mapping technique that involves the intrabronchial placement of a microcoil-has increased the accuracy of sublobar resection, particularly for deeply located tumors. Although these promising new techniques have some limitations, they are beneficial for sublobar lung resection.

Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy Versus Radial Endobronchial Ultrasound for Diagnosing Lung Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

IntroductionElectromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) and radial endobronchial ultrasound (R-EBUS) are advanced imaging-guided bronchoscopy techniques for diagnosing pulmonary lesions. This study aimed to determine the comparative diagnostic yield of sole ENB and R-EBUS under moderate sedation. MethodsWe investigated 288 patients who underwent sole ENB (n=157) or sole R-EBUS (n=131) under moderate sedation for pulmonary lesion biopsy between January 2017 and April 2022. After a 1:1 propensity score-matching to control for pre-procedural factors, the diagnostic yield, sensitivity for malignancy, and procedure-related complications between both techniques were compared. ResultsThe matching resulted in 105 pairs/procedure for analyses with balanced clinical and radiological characteristics. The overall diagnostic yield was significantly higher for ENB than for R-EBUS (83.8% vs. 70.5%, p=0.021). ENB demonstrated a significantly higher diagnostic yield than R-EBUS among those with lesions>20mm in size (85.2% vs. 72.3%, p=0.034), radiologically solid lesions (86.7% vs. 72.7%, p=0.015), and lesions with a class 2 bronchus sign (91.2% vs. 72.3%, p=0.002), respectively. The sensitivity for malignancy was also higher for ENB than for R-EBUS (81.3% vs. 55.1%, p<0.001). After adjusting for clinical/radiological factors in the unmatched cohort, using ENB over R-EBUS was significantly associated with a higher diagnostic yield (odd ratio=3.45, 95% confidence interval=1.75–6.82). Complication rates for pneumothorax did not significantly differ between ENB and R-EBUS. ConclusionENB demonstrated a higher diagnostic yield than R-EBUS under moderate sedation for diagnosing pulmonary lesions, with similar and generally low complication rates. Our data indicate the superiority of ENB over R-EBUS in a least-invasive setting.