Accuracy of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) in the staging of lung cancer - A comparison of staging EBUS with postoperative pathological nodal staging.

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial fine-needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has replaced mediastinoscopy as the preferred investigation for evaluating mediastinum in staging lung cancer. There is little evidence of mediastinal staging by EBUS-TBNA from India. OBJECTIVES: To study endobronchial ultrasound's diagnostic accuracy in staging lung cancer. METHODOLOGY: We retrospectively analysed patients operated on for lung cancer where EBUS was performed preoperatively for mediastinal staging. We compared the histological findings obtained from different mediastinal lymph nodes (LNs) by EBUS-TBNA with the pathology of the same LNs obtained after surgical dissection as the reference standard. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients underwent curative surgery for lung cancer. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of EBUS-TBNA in predicting mediastinal metastasis were 93.9%, 40%, 99%, 80% and 94.6%, respectively. Of the 115 LNs sampled, EBUS-TBNA was false negative in six nodes, resulting in an up-staging of six patients. CONCLUSIONS: EBUS-TBNA has a high diagnostic accuracy for lung cancer staging.

Guidelines for endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA): Joint Indian Chest Society (ICS)/Indian Association for Bronchology (IAB) recommendations.

Over the past decade, endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has become an indispensable tool in the diagnostic armamentarium of the pulmonologist. As the expertise with EBUS-TBNA has evolved and several innovations have occurred, the indications for its use have expanded. However, several aspects of EBUS-TBNA are still not standardized. Hence, evidence-based guidelines are needed to optimize the diagnostic yield and safety of EBUS-TBNA. For this purpose, a working group of experts from India was constituted. A detailed and systematic search was performed to extract relevant literature pertaining to various aspects of EBUS-TBNA. The modified GRADE system was used for evaluating the level of evidence and assigning the strength of recommendations. The final recommendations were framed with the consensus of the working group after several rounds of online discussions and a two-day in-person meeting. These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations encompassing indications of EBUS-TBNA, pre-procedure evaluation, sedation and anesthesia, technical and procedural aspects, sample processing, EBUS-TBNA in special situations, and training for EBUS-TBNA.

Interventional pulmonology during COVID times: A look back at the year gone by.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented crisis, affecting every sphere of human life. A major challenge for health care workers (HCWs) is to care for patients with a highly contagious airborne disease, while making sure of their own safety. Interventional pulmonology (IP) procedures, like bronchoscopy, are particularly risky due to significant aerosol generation. Guidelines by several scientific bodies were framed on the precautions to be taken while performing IP procedures. We evaluated the IP procedures performed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether the precautions adopted proved adequate in preventing transmission amongst the HCWs involved in these procedures. Method: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent IP procedures between March 2020 and November 2020, at a tertiary cancer hospital. We also evaluated the proportion of HCWs, who were involved in these procedures, and were affected by COVID-19, through their health care records. Results: We performed a total of 506 IP procedures. Two of the 18 HCWs, working in that unit, suffered from COVID-19 and recovered after a mild illness. Three HCWs were isolated with suspected infection but proved to be negative. The procedures in our IP unit were uninterrupted for the entire duration of the study period. Conclusion: IP procedures can be safely performed even in the presence of a highly contagious viral pandemic with adequate precautions.

Vocal cord biopsy under local anesthesia, with flexible bronchoscope as an outpatient procedure, by "inside-out" technique.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonologists commonly need to take biopsies of laryngeal lesions, either found incidentally while doing bronchoscopy for other indications or while investigating patients for hoarseness of voice and cough. Biopsy of laryngeal lesions has been conventionally done under general anesthesia to provide adequate samples and minimize risks and patient discomfort. Of late, these biopsies have been done as outpatient procedures, by flexible endoscopes, under local anesthesia. However, vocal cord biopsies are often challenging due to poor patient compliance. We have tested an innovative method, which we have called the "inside-out" method, to circumvent this problem. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyze the feasibility, yield, and the safety of the "inside-out" technique for taking vocal cord biopsies as an outpatient procedure in awake patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study. Data of 38 patients with vocal cord lesions in whom the above technique was employed were analyzed. RESULTS: The procedure had a diagnostic yield of 78.9% with a sensitivity of 96.7% and a specificity of 100% for detecting malignancy or dysplasia. There were no major complications. CONCLUSIONS: The "inside-out" technique was found to be feasible and safe and with a high yield.

Conventional flexible bronchoscopy during the COVID pandemic: A consensus statement from the Indian Association for Bronchology.

During the times of the ongoing COVID pandemic, aerosol-generating procedures such as bronchoscopy have the potential of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 to the healthcare workers. The decision to perform bronchoscopy during the COVID pandemic should be taken judiciously. Over the years, the indications for bronchoscopy in the clinical practice have expanded. Experts at the Indian Association for Bronchology perceived the need to develop a concise statement that would assist a bronchoscopist in performing bronchoscopy during the COVID pandemic safely. The current Indian Association for Bronchology Consensus Statement provides specific guidelines including triaging, indications, bronchoscopy area, use of personal protective equipment, patient preparation, sedation and anesthesia, patient monitoring, bronchoscopy technique, sample collection and handling, bronchoscope disinfection, and environmental disinfection concerning the coronavirus disease-2019 situation. The suggestions provided herewith should be adopted in addition to the national bronchoscopy guidelines that were published recently. This statement summarizes the essential aspects to be considered for the performance of bronchoscopy in COVID pandemic, to ensure safety for both for patients and healthcare personnel.

Bronchial thermoplasty for severe asthma: A position statement of the Indian chest society.

Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is an interventional bronchoscopic treatment for severe asthma. There is a need to define patient selection criteria to guide clinicians in offering the appropriate treatment options to patients with severe asthma. METHODOLOGY: An expert group formed this statement under the aegis of the Indian Chest Society. We performed a systematic search of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases to extract evidence on patient selection and the technical performance of BT. RESULTS: The experts agreed that the appropriate selection of patients is crucial and proposed identification of the asthma phenotype, a screening algorithm, and inclusion/exclusion criteria for BT. In the presence of atypical clinical or chest radiograph features, there should be a low threshold for obtaining a thoracic computed tomography scan before BT. The patient should not have had an asthma exacerbation in the preceding two weeks from the day of the procedure. A 5-day course of glucocorticoid should be administered, beginning three days before the procedure day, and continued until the day following the procedure. General Anesthesia (total intravenous anesthesia with a neuromuscular blocker) provides ideal conditions for performing BT. A thin bronchoscope with a 2.0 mm working channel is preferable. An attempt should be made to deliver the maximum radiofrequency activations. Middle lobe treatment is not recommended. Following the procedure, overnight observation in the hospital, and a follow-up visit, a week following each treatment session, is desirable. CONCLUSION: This position statement provides practical guidance regarding patient selection and the technical performance of BT for severe asthma.

Vasospastic Angina and Role of Cardiac Catheterization.

Prinzmetal angina, also known as vasospastic or variant angina, is defined as an intermittent focal coronary artery spasm often associated with an atherosclerotic lesion near the site of spasm. It is caused by a focal or diffuse spasm of the smooth layer of the arterial wall of an epicardial coronary artery. Acute infarctions or malignant arrhythmias may develop during spasm-induced ischemia. Evaluation includes observation of echocardiogram (EKG) for transient ST elevations during discomfort; diagnosis is confirmed with coronary angiography using provocative testing. We describe two cases of patients who presented for non-cardiac complaints, but had episodes of vasospastic angina during their hospitalization. Both underwent cardiac catheterization with differing results, demonstrating the importance of catheterization in patients who experience vasospastic angina.

Bronchoscopic lung cryobiopsy: An Indian association for bronchology position statement.

BACKGROUND: Bronchoscopic lung cryobiopsy (BLC) is a novel technique for obtaining lung tissue for the diagnosis of diffuse parenchymal lung diseases. The procedure is performed using several different variations of technique, resulting in an inconsistent diagnostic yield and a variable risk of complications. There is an unmet need for standardization of the technical aspects of BLC. METHODOLOGY: This is a position statement framed by a group comprising experts from the fields of pulmonary medicine, thoracic surgery, pathology, and radiology under the aegis of the Indian Association for Bronchology. Sixteen questions on various technical aspects of BLC were framed. A literature search was conducted using PubMed and EMBASE databases. The expert group discussed the available evidence relevant to each question through e-mail and a face-to-face meeting, and arrived at a consensus. RESULTS: The experts agreed that patients should be carefully selected for BLC after weighing the risks and benefits of the procedure. Where appropriate, consideration should be given to perform alternate procedures such as conventional transbronchial biopsy or subject the patient directly to a surgical lung biopsy. The procedure is best performed after placement of an artificial airway under sedation/general anesthesia. Fluoroscopic guidance and occlusion balloon should be utilized for positioning the cryoprobe to reduce the risk of pneumothorax and bleeding, respectively. At least four tissue specimens (with at least two of adequate size, i.e., ≥5 mm) should be obtained during the procedure from different lobes or different segments of a lobe. The histopathological findings of BLC should be interpreted by an experienced pulmonary pathologist. The final diagnosis should be made after a multidisciplinary discussion. Finally, there is a need for structured training for performing BLC. CONCLUSION: This position statement is an attempt to provide practical recommendations for the performance of BLC in DPLDs.

The use of adaptive intensity-modulated radiotherapy in the treatment of small-cell carcinoma lung refractory to chemotherapy in a patient with preexisting interstitial lung disease.

This is a case report of a 60-year-old diabetic, hypertensive male with a good performance status and a history of bilateral interstitial lung disease with a left upper lobe lung mass diagnosed to be a Stage IIB mixed small-cell/squamous cell carcinoma which was refractory to carboplatin- and etoposide-based chemotherapy. The patient was then taken up for adaptive intensity-modulated radiotherapy with tighter margin under image guidance with a mid-treatment replanning done at 25#. Acute toxicities were assessed weekly and showed no Grade 3 or more reactions. Pulmonary function test showed no detrimental changes during or after radiation. Response assessment at 12 and 20 weeks showed a partial response with decrease in metabolic activity on serial scans.

Placement of tracheobronchial silicone Y-stents: Multicenter experience and systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Airway obstruction or tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) near the tracheal carina requires placement of Y-shaped stents. Herein, we describe our multicenter experience with the placement of Dumon silicone Y-stents. We also conduct a systematic review for studies describing the deployment of airway silicone Y-stents. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of consecutive subjects who underwent placement of silicone Y-stents. The clinical details including the underlying diagnosis, indication for the placement of silicone Y-stents, success of stent placement, and follow-up are presented. The PubMed and EMBASE databases were also reviewed for studies describing the placement of silicone Y-stents. RESULTS: During the study, 27 silicone Y-stents were placed. The mean (standard deviation) age of the study population (85.2% males) was 57.7 (13.5) years. The stents were placed for airway obstruction in 77.8% and TEF in 29.6% of the patients. The most common underlying disease was carcinoma of the esophagus. The degree of airway obstruction was grade 3-4 in 18 subjects, and respiratory failure was encountered in 18 subjects. The stent was deployed successfully in all the subjects. No deaths were encountered during stent placement. Most subjects had rapid relief of symptoms following the procedure. Excessive secretions and mucostasis were the most common stent-related complications followed by the development of granulation tissue. The systematic review yielded nine studies (338 subjects with airway obstruction and/or TEF). The most common indication for silicone Y-stent placement was tracheobronchial obstruction and TEF due to malignancy. Benign disorders that necessitated stent placement included postintubation tracheal stenosis, airway malacia, and others. The stent was successfully placed in 98% with only one periprocedural death. Granulation tissue formation and mucostasis were the most common stent-related complications. CONCLUSION: Placement of silicone Y-stent is a safe and effective procedure that provides quick relief of symptoms in subjects presenting with airway obstruction and TEF at or near the tracheal carina.

Radial endobronchial ultrasound for the diagnosis of bronchoscopically invisible lesions: First case series from India.

BACKGROUND: A peripheral, bronchoscopically invisible pulmonary lesion is a diagnostic challenge. Transthoracic needle aspiration has long been the investigation of choice but runs the risk of pneumothorax (up to 44%). Newer technologies like radial endobronchial ultrasound (R-EBUS) offer a safer approach. We present our results of R-EBUS in the diagnosis of bronchoscopically invisible lesions. This is the first large case series from India. AIMS: (1) To determine the yield of R-EBUS for the diagnosis of bronchoscopically invisible lesions. (2) To compare the yields of forceps versus cryobiopsies in the diagnosis of these lesions. SETTING: Tertiary care cancer center. DESIGN: Prospective study. METHODS: Consecutive patients presenting between January and October 2015 with bronchoscopically invisible peripheral pulmonary lesions were included. R-EBUS was used to localize and sample the lesion and the yields were analyzed. Yields of cryo and forceps biopsy were compared where both methods had been used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. RESULTS: A definite diagnosis obtained in 67.3% (37/55) patients with no major complications. No significant difference was found in yield between: (1) small (<3 cm) and large (>3 cm) lesions: (46.2% versus 78.6%, P = 0.38). (2) central and adjacent lesions: 61.5% versus 70%. (3) forceps and cryobiopsy (n = 28, 75% versus 67.9% P = 0.562). CONCLUSIONS: R-EBUS is a safe procedure in our setting and its yield is comparable to that reported in literature. The yield of central and adjacent lesions and forceps or cryobiopsy appears similar. Further refinements in the technique could improve yield.

Foreign body in the lung following dental procedure.

This is an interesting case report of a foreign body (FB) aspiration in an adult patient. The FB in question was a dental drill, which accidentally went into the airways during a dental procedure. The extraction was technically difficult due to the peripheral location and thin and sharp tip of the FB. The extraction of this FB required a unique innovation through the rigid bronchoscope.

A Multicenter Experience With the Placement of Self-Expanding Metallic Tracheobronchial Y Stents.

BACKGROUND: Deployment of a bifurcation (Y) stent is often required in patients with airway obstruction or fistulization near the tracheal carina. Herein, we describe our experience with placement of self-expanding metallic Y stents. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of data of consecutive subjects who underwent placement of self-expanding metallic Y stent over 2 years at 6 different centers. We describe the technique, complications, and outcomes of metallic Y stent placement at the tracheal carina. RESULTS: Thirty-eight subjects (25 men) with a mean age of 54.8 years underwent Y stent placement. The most common underlying disease was carcinoma of the esophagus (65.8%). The most common indication for stent insertion was central airway obstruction in 30 (78.9%) subjects followed by airway-esophageal fistula. Respiratory failure was present in 17 (44.7%) subjects at admission. The Y stent was deployed using either the rigid (n=32) or the flexible (n=6) bronchoscope, and was successfully placed in 37 of the 38 (97.4%) subjects. There was rapid improvement in symptoms and subsequent resolution of respiratory failure after stent placement. There was no periprocedural mortality and few stent-related complications. On follow-up at 12 weeks, 18 patients had died due to progression of the underlying disease. CONCLUSION: The insertion of a metallic Y stent results in immediate palliation of malignant airway obstruction or airway fistulization near the tracheal carina with rapid improvement of symptoms.

Endobronchial Ultrasound-Radial Probe-Assisted Cryobiopsy for Peripheral Lung Mass: A New Way for Better Yield?

Solitary pulmonary nodules pose a diagnostic challenge as traditional techniques like bronchoscopic transbronchial biopsies or percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsies suffer either from poor yield or unacceptable complications. The advent of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-radial probe (RP) has helped to guide the operator to the lesion more accurately and thereby improve yield. Small biopsy forceps or cytology brushes can be passed through the guide sheath of the EBUS-RP, after removing the probe, to get specimens. However, a small specimen may sometimes prove inadequate for special molecular studies or genetic analysis. Recently, there have been feasibility reports of transbronchial cryobiopsies that can be safely performed with larger biopsy specimens. We report a case of solitary pulmonary nodules where EBUS-RP was used to guide a cryoprobe to get large transbronchial cryobiopsies successfully.

Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism by endobronchial ultrasound.

This is a case report of a young 20-year-old male who was referred for an endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) procedure to investigate a fever and a left hilar lymph node and patchy pleural-based opacities seen on CT of the chest. During the EBUS procedure besides the left hilar node, a large thrombus was noticed in the main pulmonary artery and another one in the right pulmonary artery. EBUS proved invaluable in making a diagnosis in an unsuspected case of pulmonary embolism.

Extraction of tracheobronchial foreign bodies in children and adults with rigid and flexible bronchoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Tracheobronchial foreign bodies (TBFBs) due to accidental aspiration are seen in both children and adults and are usually extracted by flexible bronchoscopy (FB) or rigid bronchoscopy (RB). The experience over a decade of treating 214 patients with TBFBs has been analyzed retrospectively. METHODS: The records of all patients who presented with possible TBFB aspiration since 2001 were analyzed. A clinical profile of these patients was compiled. The method of extraction and its success was noted. Asphyxiating TBFBs were extracted straight away by RB, whereas for nonasphyxiating TBFBs, extraction was first attempted with FB and RB used only if the former failed. The success of the 2 procedures was compared. RESULTS: : Of a total of 266 patients in whom TBFBs were suspected, the diagnosis was confirmed by bronchoscopy in 214. TBFBs were more common in males, and in the age group between 1 and 2 years. Successful extraction could be achieved in 40% of the patients with FB and in 95% with RB where it was required. CONCLUSIONS: From our experience of extraction of TBFBs over more than a decade, we have drawn the following conclusions: (1) TBFBs present most frequently in the age group of 1 to 2 years, with cough and/or breathlessness commonly following a choking episode; (2) a high index of suspicion is essential and diagnostic FB should be performed in all such cases even though the chest radiograph is normal; (3) TBFBs can be life threatening and may require to be treated as an emergency; (4) FB may be used first for diagnosis and extraction under conscious sedation for nonasphyxiating TBFBs. It is usually more successful in adults and less so in children; (5) in these patients, if FB is unsuccessful, then RB may be used to extract the TBFB; (6) for asphyxiating TBFBs, RB is the procedure of choice; (7) pulmonologists who wish to practice extraction of TBFBs ought to be trained in both FB and RB and must possess adequate equipment and a skilled team to assist them.

Serial excision of congenital melanocytic nevi.

Congenital melanocytic nevus needs to be excised for aesthetic reasons and concerns regarding its malignant potential. Many methods like surgical resection, dermabrasion, curettage, chemical peeling, laser resurfacing, etc., are available for treatment. We hereby report the efficacy of excision of nevi by serial excision.

Tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy--should a stent be an integral part?

PURPOSE: We compared the outcome of tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy with or without Double-J(R) stent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2004 to March 2006 patients with renal stones matched for age and stone size who underwent tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy were prospectively evaluated in 2 groups treated by 2 surgeons. Group 1 had a Double-J stent and group 2 did not. Inclusion criteria for tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy included contralateral normal kidney, intact pelvicaliceal system, complete stone clearance under fluoroscopy and single infracostal puncture. These groups were compared for analgesic requirement, hospital stay, and intraoperative and postoperative complications. RESULTS: During a period of 27 months 52 patients (57 renal units) underwent tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Group 1 had 25 (28 renal units) and group 2 had 27 patients (29 renal units). Mean stone volume was 4.34 +/- 2.12 cm(3) in group 1 and 4.14 +/- 1.14 cm(3) in group 2. Mean pain score was 2.96 +/- 1.24 and 2.82 +/- 0.81 in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Analgesic (intramuscular or oral diclofenac sodium) requirement and mean hospital stay was comparable in groups 1 and 2, eg 170 +/- 110 vs 163.24 +/- 98.07 mg and 2.52 +/- 0.12 vs 2.35 +/- 0.12 days. Two patients in group 1 and 1 in group 2 had urinary leak from the percutaneous nephrolithotomy tract. Similarly 3 patients in group 1 had severe stent related problems and 1 required early removal of the Double-J stent. CONCLUSIONS: Avoiding use of the Double-J stent may not compromise the safety of tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy.