Abstract
Objective: Diagnostic bronchoscopy has been considered as one of the safe and effective procedures. Endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath (EBUS-GS) for diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesion (PPL) is becoming a common procedure but there has been no report about its safety. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety profile of EBUS-GS for the diagnosis of PPLs.
Methods: All patients with PPLs who underwent EBUS-GS between September 2012 and August 2014 at National Cancer Center Hospital were included. Post-procedural complications and durability of devices were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: EBUS-GS procedures were performed for 965 PPLs during the study period. The overall complication rate was 1.3% (13/965); 0.8% (8/965) for pneumothorax and 0.5% (5/965) for pulmonary infection. There was no significant hemorrhage, air embolism, tumor seeding or procedure-related death. There was no breakage of guide sheath. Only four radial probes were broken during the study period without any adverse reaction on the patient.
Conclusion: EBUS-GS is a tolerable procedure and the devices are durable.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015
