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Author Spotlight: Expanding Interventional Pulmonology Research with Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy
Published on: July 19, 2024
Safety and Performance of Transbronchial Cryobiopsy for Parenchymal Lung Lesions
Felix J Herth1, Max Mayer2, Jeffrey Thiboutot3
1Department of Pneumology and Critical Care Medicine, Thoraxklinik, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg, German Center for Lung Research, Heidelberg, Germany.
Background:
Despite advances in technology, the bronchoscopic diagnosis of parenchymal pulmonary lesions (PPLs) remains difficult to achieve. Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TLCB) offers the potential for larger samples with improved diagnostic yield; however, a paucity of data exists describing its safety and usefulness for the diagnosis of PPL.
Research Question:
What is the safety profile of TLCB for PPL?
Study Design And Methods:
An observational, retrospective, multicenter cohort study enrolled patients without endobronchial disease undergoing TLCB of PPL from 2015 through 2019. All procedures were performed using both rigid and flexible bronchoscopy with a flexible cryoprobe. Complication rates, including bleeding and pneumothorax rates, were collected. Bleeding was graded on a scale from 0 (trace) to 4 (requiring surgical intervention) with a grade of ≥ 3 considered clinically significant. Pneumothorax, tube thoracostomy placement, diagnostic yield, and need for subsequent interventions were recorded.
Results:
One thousand twenty-four patients underwent TLCB. One hundred eighty-eight patients (18%) experienced bleeding; in 36 patients (3.5%), the bleeding was clinically significant. Sixty-eight patients (6.6%) demonstrated a pneumothorax and 64 patients (6.3%) required drainage with tube thoracostomy. All chest drains were removed within 4 days, and no cases of prolonged air leak occurred. A definitive diagnosis was achieved in 932 patients (91%). Adenocarcinoma (46%) and metastatic disease (21%) were the most common diagnoses.
Interpretation:
TLCB showed an acceptable safety profile and diagnostic yield for the evaluation of PPL in this large retrospective cohort. Prospective clinical trials are underway to validate these findings further.
