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Novel thin bronchoscope with a 1.7-mm working channel for peripheral pulmonary lesions

Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan.

CORRESPONDENCE: M. Oki, Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Nagoya Medical Center, 4-1-1 Sannomaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya 460-0001, Japan. Fax: 81 529510664. E-mail: Masahideo{at}aol.com

Keywords: Bronchoscopy, lung cancer, peripheral pulmonary lesions, thin bronchoscope, transbronchial biopsy, ultrathin bronchoscope

Received: December 15, 2007
Accepted March 28, 2008

In the present study, the authors evaluated the diagnostic utility of a novel thin bronchoscope with a 1.7-mm working channel for peripheral pulmonary lesions.

A total of 118 patients were included in this prospective study. Bronchoscopic examination was performed using a 5.9-mm standard bronchoscope. If no visible endobronchial lesion was found, transbronchial biopsies were performed with 1.5-mm biopsy forceps under fluoroscopic guidance and the bronchus were washed with 10–20 mL of saline solution, using a prototype 3.5-mm thin bronchoscope with a 1.7-mm working channel.

Endobronchial lesion was visualised with the standard bronchoscope in 16 patients, and the other 102 patients underwent biopsies with the thin bronchoscope. The mean bronchus levels reached with the standard bronchoscope and the thin bronchoscope were 2.3 and 4.3 generations, respectively. Endobronchial abnormality was revealed with the thin bronchoscope in a further 14 patients. Diagnostic material was obtained in 50 of 68 (74%) patients with malignant disease and 18 of 30 (60%) patients with benign disease. Four patients did not return to follow-up. The diagnostic yield was 57%, even in lesions <20 mm. There were no major complications.

In conclusion, bronchoscopy using a 3.5-mm thin bronchoscope with a 1.7-mm working channel is useful and safe for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. L. Casoni and V. Poletti Diagnostic utility of a novel thin bronchoscope Eur. Respir. J., December 1, 2008; 32(6): 1671 - 1671. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Oki and H. Saka From the authors Eur. Respir. J., December 1, 2008; 32(6): 1672 - 1672. [Full Text] [PDF]