Radial probe endobronchial ultrasound and novel navigation biopsy techniques.

Peripheral pulmonary lesions are an increasingly common finding in clinical practice. While many nodules are followed with radiographic surveillance, some may require biopsy. Conventional bronchoscopy with transbronchial lung biopsy has traditionally performed poorly for small, peripheral lesions, and transthoracic needle aspiration with computed tomographic (CT) guidance has been favored as the diagnostic test of choice. Despite the high diagnostic yield of transthoracic needle aspiration, procedural complications such as pneumothorax continue to be problematic. New technology has been developed to improve the diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy for peripheral lesions over conventional methods, while maintaining the favorable safety profile of a bronchoscopic approach. Virtual bronchoscopy and electromagnetic navigation are CT-based image guidance systems that create virtual bronchoscopic representations of the tracheobronchial tree to assist the bronchoscopist in locating peripheral lesions. Radial probe endobronchial ultrasound utilizes real-time ultrasound to confirm the location of peripheral lesions before biopsy. This article summarizes the technical platforms, procedures, and clinical evidence for these emerging technologies.

Inter- and intra-observer variability of radial-endobronchial ultrasound image interpretation for peripheral pulmonary lesions.

Background: Radial probe endobronchial ultrasound (R-EBUS) is often utilized in guided bronchoscopy for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions. R-EBUS probe positioning has been shown to correlate with diagnostic yield, but overall diagnostic yield with this technology has been inconsistent across the published literature. Currently there is no standardization for R-EBUS image interpretation, which may result in variability in grading concentricity of lesions and subsequently procedure performance. This was a survey-based study evaluating variability among practicing pulmonologists in R-EBUS image interpretation. Methods: R-EBUS images from peripheral bronchoscopy cases were sent to 10 practicing Interventional Pulmonologists at two different time points (baseline and 3 months). Participants were asked to grade the images as concentric, eccentric, or no image. Cohen's Kappa-coefficient was calculated for inter- and intra-observer variability. Results: A total of 100 R-EBUS images were included in the survey. There was 100% participation with complete survey responses from all 10 participants. Overall kappa-statistic for inter-observer variability for Survey 1 and 2 was 0.496 and 0.477 respectively. Overall kappa-statistic for intra-observer variability between the two surveys was 0.803. Conclusions: There is significant variability between pulmonologists when characterizing R-EBUS images. However, there is strong intra-rater agreement from each participant between surveys. A standardized approach and grading system for radial EBUS patterns may improve inter-observer variability in order to optimize our clinical use and research efforts in the field.

A 52-Year-Old Woman With a History of Ulcerative Colitis and New Onset Severe Dyspnea.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old woman was referred to the pulmonary office for evaluation of worsening dyspnea in August 2022. She had been diagnosed with asthma 22 years ago after she experienced chronic cough, sputum production, occasional wheezing, and mild exertional shortness of breath. Over the years, she was treated with different inhalers and was currently on triple inhaler therapy. A pulmonary function test in 2020 was normal. She had a history of ulcerative colitis and underwent a total colectomy in 1998. In the early 2000s, the patient also experienced episcleritis. Her other medical conditions included hyperlipidemia, gout, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Prevalence of autoantibodies in pediatric patients with idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis: a scoping review of the literature in the period 1980-2021.

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare disease of unknown etiology. Due to the frequent findings of autoimmune antibodies - autoantibodies, immunologic causation of the diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in IPH has been proposed, to assess the prevalence/frequency and type of autoantibodies in pediatric patients with IPH. In addition, the patient demographics, diagnostic modalities used to diagnose IPH, treatment, and outcomes were also evaluated. Scoping review: The PubMed, Medline, and Embase databases were searched with appropriate MeSH terms to identify relevant papers consistent with the defined inclusion criteria. Thirteen observational studies comprising a total of 352 pediatric patients were included in this review. The majority of subjects were girls 217 out of 352 (61.6%). The mean and median ages of patients ranged from 3.1-6.5 years to 2.3-7 years, respectively. In the 10 studies that specified the number of patients in their cohorts with either at least one positive autoantibody or no antibody, the overall prevalence of autoantibodies was 76 out of 288 patients (26.4%). The prevalence of specific antibodies was as follows: ANA, 20.3%; ANCA, 17%; anti-dsDNA, 9.1%; RF, 12%; anti-SMA, 23.2%; and celiac antibodies, 25.9%. Cow's milk protein allergy was present in 16.2% of the children. The significance of an association between IPH and the presence of autoantibodies has not been clarified. The autoantibodies could be suggestive of an overall immune dysregulation rather than causation. However, limited evidence based on a single study suggests that the presence of ANA may be associated with a higher risk of recurrence and worse outcomes. Further research, including prospective studies, will be crucial to explore a possible genetic linkage between vasculitides, systemic rheumatologic diseases, and IPH.

A 50-Year Old Woman With Recurrent Right-Sided Chest Pain.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 50-year-old woman was seen in the office for recurrent episodes of cough and right-sided chest pain. She had visited the ED three times in the past 15 months for the same complaint. Each time, the pain started gradually affecting the right lateral chest wall. It was pleuritic and was associated with cough and mild shortness of breath. During these episodes, she reported low-grade fever but denied any night sweats, chills, sputum production, wheezing, or hemoptysis. She was treated with antibiotics and systemic steroids with resolution of her symptoms. The patient was an active smoker with a more than 35-pack year history. She had no known medical condition and was not taking any medication routinely at home. She had no family history of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency or Marfan syndrome.

Pressure-dependent persistent air leak in a patient with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax.

An air leak lasting more than 5-7 days (persistent air leak, PAL) can complicate up to 40% of patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the most common cause of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, and early surgical intervention has been recommended for patients with PAL. Bullectomy or blebectomy with concomitant mechanical pleurodesis by medical thoracoscopy or video assisted thoracoscopic surgery is considered definitive therapy. Unfortunately, the perioperative course following lung resection can also be complicated by air leaks leading to worse clinical outcomes. Post lung resection air leak can be pressure independent or pressure dependent (also known as drainage-related air leak). The distinction between these two entities is crucial as the management varies drastically. Pleural manometry may play an important role in the early diagnosis of pressure-dependent PAL preventing further unnecessary surgical procedures from being performed.

Successful use of endobronchial valve for persistent air leak in a patient with COVID-19 and bullous emphysema.

Patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia can suffer from pneumothorax and persistent air leak (PAL). The pneumothorax occurs with or without pre-existing lung disease. PAL refers to air leak lasting more than 5-7 days and arises due to bronchopleural or alveolopleural fistula. The management of PAL can be challenging as a standard management guideline is lacking. Here we present the case of a 42-year-old smoker with COVID-19 who presented to the hospital with fever, cough, acute left-sided chest pain and shortness of breath. He suffered from a large left-sided pneumothorax requiring immediate chest tube drainage. Unfortunately, the air leak persisted for 13 days before one-way endobronchial valve (EBV) was used with complete resolution of the air leak. We also review the literature regarding other cases of EBV utilisation for PAL in patients with COVID-19.

Bronchoscopy During Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Bronchoscopist's Perspective.

Bronchoscopy is a safe and commonly performed procedure for diagnostic as well as therapeutic indications. Bronchoscopy is also an aerosol-generating procedure, and due to the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 transmission during the procedure, routine bronchoscopy has been discouraged by multiple professional societies, despite any solid evidence. There are only a few reports of bronchoscopy in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in the literature. Bronchoscopy in this patient population plays a crucial role not only in the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 but also in the identification of secondary bacterial or fungal infections and in directing appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Bronchoscopy with therapeutic interventions may be lifesaving. Based on the literature, the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 transmission appears to be low among bronchoscopists and other healthcare workers when appropriate personal protective equipment is used. Bronchoscopy in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 should be strongly considered when clinically indicated.

Outcomes of severe COPD exacerbations requiring hospitalization.

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are important events in the lives of patients with COPD. While several definitions exist for AECOPD, exacerbations that result in a hospitalization would nearly always be considered severe. On average, exacerbation rates are approximately 1 to 2 per patient-year with COPD hospitalizations averaging approximately 0.1 to 0.2 per patient-year. Many risk factors, some of which are modifiable, such as patient adherence to therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and type of medication used, influence the rate of AECOPD. Severe AECOPD that result in hospitalization often lead to several adverse affects, including decreased quality of life, diminished lung function, weakness, reexacerbations/rehospitalization, cardiopulmonary complications, and death. Preventing severe AECOPD and their sequelae is a critical component in treating our patients with COPD.

Use of One-Way Intrabronchial Valves in Air Leak Management After Tube Thoracostomy Drainage.

BACKGROUND: A persistent air leak represents significant clinical management problems, potentially affecting morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. In 2008, a unidirectional, intrabronchial valve received humanitarian device exemption for use in managing prolonged air leak after pulmonary resection. Since its introduction, numerous reports exist but no large series describe current utilization or outcomes. Our aim was to report current use of intrabronchial valves for air leaks and review outcome data associated with its utilization. METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective review of intrabronchial valve utilization from January 2013 to August 2014 was performed at eight centers. Data regarding demographics, valve utilization, and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 112 patients undergoing evaluation for intrabronchial valve placement, with 67% (75 of 112) undergoing valve implantation. Nearly three quarters of patients underwent valve placement for off-label usage (53 of 75). A total of 195 valves were placed in 75 patients (mean 2.6 per patient; range, 1 to 8) with median time to air leak resolution of 16 days (range, 2 to 156). CONCLUSIONS: We present the largest, multicenter study of patients undergoing evaluation for intrabronchial valve use for air leak management. Our data suggest the majority of intrabronchial valve placements are occurring for off-label indications. Although the use of intrabronchial valves are a minimally invasive intervention for air leak management, the lack of rigorously designed studies demonstrating efficacy remains concerning. Prospective randomized controlled studies remain warranted.

Radial probe endobronchial ultrasound for peripheral pulmonary lesions. A 5-year institutional experience.

RATIONALE: Technological advances have improved the ability of bronchoscopists to access peripheral pulmonary lesions for tissue sampling. Radial probe endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) provides real-time feedback to guide biopsies of peripheral lesions, thereby potentially improving diagnostic yield over conventional bronchoscopy. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the overall diagnostic yield of peripheral bronchoscopy using radial probe EBUS for peripheral pulmonary lesions, as well as factors that might influence the diagnostic yield, such as radial ultrasound view, lesion size, and ability to locate the peripheral lesion. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of peripheral bronchoscopy cases in which radial probe EBUS was utilized to diagnose peripheral pulmonary lesions at a tertiary care university hospital. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Our study cohort comprised 496 patients who underwent bronchoscopies between January 2008 and December 2012 for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions. Radial probe EBUS was used alone for diagnostic purposes in 467 patients. A diagnosis was made on that basis in 321 (69%) of 467 patients. A diagnosis was obtained for 83 of 144 (58%) of nodules 1-2 cm in diameter, 99 of 137 (72%) of nodules 2.1-3 cm, 54 of 70 (77%) of nodules 3.1-4 cm, 41 of 47 (87%) of nodules 4.1-5 cm, and 35 of 40 (88%) of nodules larger than 5.1 cm. Of all 467 nodules, 446 (96%) were successfully identified using radial probe EBUS. When the radial probe position was within the target lesion, the diagnostic yield was 84% compared with 48% when the probe was positioned adjacent to the lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Radial probe EBUS can be used to guide biopsy during peripheral bronchoscopy. This technique provides real-time ultrasound-based confirmation of target lesion localization prior to biopsy. Using radial probe EBUS, the vast majority of peripheral pulmonary nodules can be identified. Radial EBUS probe position relative to the target lesion significantly affects the diagnostic yield.

The use of convex probe endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in a pediatric population: a multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of intrathoracic lymphadenopathy and mediastinal masses in the pediatric population often presents a diagnostic challenge. With limited minimally invasive methodologies to obtain a diagnosis, invasive sampling via mediastinoscopy or thoracotomy is often pursued. Endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that has demonstrated significant success in the adult population in the evaluation of such abnormalities. Within the pediatric literature there is limited data regarding the use of EBUS-TBNA. We report the first multicenter review of a pediatric population undergoing EBUS-TBNA procedures identifying the feasibility, safety, utility, and outcomes of this procedure. METHODS: All patients of 18 years of age or younger undergoing EBUS-TBNA at six major academic medical centers from the years 2007 through 2013 were reviewed. Data regarding procedural performance, outcomes, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were identified in six centers. The mean age of the cohort was 13.7 (±4.1) years. EBUS-TBNA provided adequate sampling in 20/21 (95%) of the cases with diagnostic material obtained in 10 (48%) cases. Eight patients (38%) underwent additional surgical procedures to confirm or obtain diagnostic tissue. Within our cohort, 13 patients (62%) were able to avoid invasive surgical biopsy procedures. No procedural or anesthesia related complications were identified. CONCLUSION: We report the first multicenter study to date confirming the feasibility and utility of EBUS-TBNA in the pediatric population. Due to the low overall procedural risk of EBUS-TBNA, it should be considered as a potential first line diagnostic option for children presenting with mediastinal or hilar abnormalities but further prospective studies are needed.