Background: Diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is based on multidisciplinary team discussion (MDD) with the incorporation of clinical, radiographical, and histopathologic information if available. We aim to evaluate the diagnostic yield and safety outcomes of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) in the diagnosis of ILD.
Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis by comprehensive literature search to include all studies that evaluated the diagnostic yields and/or adverse events with TBLC in patients with ILD. We calculated the pooled event rates and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the diagnostic yield by MDD, histopathologic diagnostic yield, and various clinical adverse events.
Results: We included 68 articles (44 full texts and 24 abstracts) totaling 6386 patients with a mean age of 60.7±14.1 years and 56% men. The overall diagnostic yield of TBLC to achieve a definite or high-confidence diagnosis based on MDD was 82.3% (95% CI: 78.9%-85.2%) and histopathologic diagnosis of 72.5% (95% CI: 67.7%-76.9%). The overall rate of pneumothorax was 9.6% (95% CI: 7.9%-11%), while the rate of pneumothorax requiring drainage by a thoracostomy tube was 5.3% (95% CI: 4.1%-6.9%). The rate of moderate bleeding was 11.7% (95% CI: 9.1%-14.9%), while the rate of severe bleeding was 1.9% (95% CI: 1.4%-2.6%). The risk of mortality attributed to the procedure was 0.9% (95% CI: 0.7%-1.3%).
Conclusion: Among patients with undiagnosed or unclassified ILD requiring tissue biopsy for diagnosis, transbronchial cryobiopsy represents a reliable alternative to surgical lung biopsy with decreased incidence of various clinical adverse events.
Background: Recurrent pleural effusions are a major cause of morbidity and frequently lead to hospitalization. Indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) are tunneled catheters that allow ambulatory intermittent drainage of pleural fluid without repeated thoracentesis. Despite the efficacy and safety of IPCs, data supporting postplacement follow-up is limited and variable. Our study aims to characterize the impact of a dedicated pleural clinic (PC) on patient outcomes as they relate to IPCs.
Methods: Patients who underwent IPC placement between 2015 and 2021 were included in this retrospective study. Differences in outcomes were analyzed between patients with an IPC placed and managed by Interventional Pulmonology (IP) through the PC and those placed by non-IP services (non-PC providers) before and after the PC implementation.
Results: In total, 371 patients received IPCs. Since the implementation of the PC, there was an increase in ambulatory IPC placement (31/133 pre-PC vs. 96/238 post-PC; P =0.001). There were fewer admissions before IPC placement (18/103 vs. 43/133; P =0.01), and fewer thoracenteses per patient (2.7±2.5 in PC cohort vs. 4±5.1 in non-PC cohort; P <0.01). The frequency of pleurodesis was higher in the PC cohort (40/103 vs. 41/268; P <0.001). A Fine and Gray competing risks model indicated higher likelihood of pleurodesis in the PC cohort (adjusted subhazard ratio 3.8, 95% CI: 2.5-5.87).
Conclusion: Our experience suggests that the implementation of a dedicated PC can lead to improved patient outcomes including fewer procedures and admissions before IPC placement, and increased rates of pleurodesis with IPC removal.
Background: Robotic assisted bronchoscopy (RAB) is designed to increase bronchoscopic accessibility for difficult to reach pulmonary lesions. One limitation to success of RAB is computed tomography (CT) to body divergence. Real time imaging with cone beam CT is increasingly utilized for confirmation of correct navigation and tool-in-lesion during RAB. O-arm CT is a 3-dimensional imaging modality, which has not previously been described for use with RAB. Our purpose is to display the feasibility, ease of use, and high rate of confirmation of tool-in-lesion when using O-arm CT during RAB.
Methods: Single center, retrospective review of 75 patients undergoing RAB with intraprocedural use of O-arm CT.
Results: Median patient age was 65 years. Forty-nine percent of cases involved nodules ≤2 cm. Bronchus sign was absent in 44% of cases. Median procedure time was 80 minutes. Median number of O-arm CT runs per case was 2. The median effective dose of radiation was 7.2 millisieverts. Tool-in-lesion was confirmed in 97% (77 of 79) of cases. Definitive diagnosis was reached in 61 to 68 of 79 cases (77% to 86%). There were 2 cases of pneumothorax (2.5%), one of which needed intervention with tube thoracostomy.
Conclusions: O-arm CT is an effective, and convenient alternative to other 3-dimensional imaging modalities for intraprocedural confirmation of tool-in-lesion during RAB.
Background: Newer navigational bronchoscopy technologies render peripheral lung lesions accessible for biopsy and potential treatment. We investigated whether photodynamic therapy (PDT) delivered via navigational bronchoscopy is feasible and safe for ablation of peripheral lung tumors.
Methods: Two studies evaluated PDT in patients with solid peripheral lung tumors followed by clinical follow-up (nonresection study, N=5) or lobectomy (resection study, N=10). Porfimer sodium injection was administered 40 to 50 hours before navigational bronchoscopy. Lesion location was confirmed by radial probe endobronchial ultrasonography. An optical fiber diffuser was placed within or adjacent to the tumor under fluoroscopic guidance; laser light (630 nm wavelength) was applied at 200 J/cm of diffuser length for 500 seconds. Tumor response was assessed by modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors at 3 and 6 months postprocedure (nonresection study) and pathologically (resection study).
Results: There were no deaths, discontinuations for adverse events, or serious or grade ≥3 adverse events related to study treatments. Photosensitivity reactions occurred in 8 of 15 patients: 6 mild, 1 moderate, 1 severe (elevated porphyrins noted in blood after treatment). Among 5 patients with clinical follow-up, 1 had complete response, 3 had stable disease, and 1 had progressive disease at 6 months follow-up. Among 10 patients who underwent lobectomy, 1 had no evidence of tumor at resection (complete response), 3 had 40% to 50% tumor cell necrosis, 2 had 20% to 35%, and 4 had 5% to 10%.
Conclusion: PDT for nonthermal ablation of peripheral lung tumors was feasible and safe in this small study. Further study is warranted to evaluate efficacy and corroborate the safety profile.