Background: Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided transbronchial needle aspiration is a well-established first-line minimally invasive modality for mediastinal lymph node sampling. Although results are excellent overall, the technique underperforms in certain situations. We aimed to describe our results using a new 19-G EBUS-guided transbronchial needle aspiration device to determine safety and feasibility of this approach.
Methods: We completed a retrospective chart review of all cases performed to the time of data analysis at each of 3 study sites.
Results: A total of 165 procedures were performed with a total of 297 individual lymph nodes or lesions sampled with the 19-G device by 10 bronchoscopists. Relatively large targets were selected for sampling with the device (mean lymph node size: 20.4 mm; lung lesions: 33.5 mm). A specific diagnosis was obtained in 77.3% of cases with an additional 13.6% of cases with benign lymphocytes, for a procedural adequacy rate of 90.9%. Procedure sample adequacy was 88.6% in suspected malignant cases, 91.0% in suspected sarcoidosis/lymphadenopathy cases, and 85.7% of cases with suspected lymphoma. On a per-node basis, a specific diagnosis was noted in 191/280 (68.2%) of samples, with an additional 61 showing benign lymphocytes for a per-node sample adequacy rate of 90%. One case (0.6%) of intraprocedure bleeding was noted.
Conclusions: A new flexible 19-G EBUS needle was successfully and safely applied in a large patient cohort for sampling of lung and enlarged mediastinal lesions with high diagnostic rates across clinical indications.