Introduction of endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) in bronchoscopy clearly reduces fluoroscopy time: comparison of 147 cases in groups before and after EBUS introduction.

摘要

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) has been used in diagnosing peripheral lung cancer and has allowed for higher rates of peripheral lung cancer diagnosis. However, no studies have reported that fluoroscopy time is shortened by the use of endobronchial ultrasonography. We aimed to investigate whether fluoroscopy time is shortened using endobronchial ultrasonography. METHODS: We retrospectively researched fluoroscopy time in terms of the rate of diagnosis, lesion size, age, gender, histologic type and lesion site in 147 cases of malignant lesions from January 2006 to September 2007 at the Tokai University Hospital. The location of the bronchial brush or biopsy forceps was confirmed by fluoroscopy without endobronchial ultrasonography with guide-sheath group in 96 of the 147 cases, while fluoroscopy with endobronchial ultrasonography guide sheath group was confirmed in 51 cases. RESULTS: The result was that fluoroscopy time was significantly shortened in the endobronchial ultrasonography guide-sheath group (4.08 +/- 3.27 min) compared with the non-endobronchial ultrasonography guide-sheath group (7.06 +/- 3.99 min), but there was no significant difference between either groups in terms of bronchoscopic diagnosis, lesion size, age, gender, histologic type and lesion site. CONCLUSION: The use of endobronchial ultrasonography guide sheath allows a reduction in fluoroscopy time and may reduce the adverse effects of radiation exposure on patients and staff.