Infectious complications of EBUS-TBNA: A nested case-control study using 10-year registry data

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Interventional Pulmonology
• Medical Procedures

Background:

• Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a standard diagnostic procedure.
• Infectious complications following EBUS-TBNA are not well-characterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence and risk factors of infectious complications after EBUS-TBNA.
• To evaluate the clinical course of these complications, including their impact on anti-cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

• A nested case-control study was conducted on 6826 patients undergoing EBUS-TBNA.
• Infection was defined by clinical symptoms and imaging; risk factors were identified using multivariate logistic regression.

Main Results:

• The incidence of infectious complications was 0.48% (33/6826), including pneumonia and mediastinal infections.
• Necrotic target lesions on CT scans and esophageal EBUS-TBNA procedures were independent risk factors.
• Patients with infectious complications showed a trend towards refusing anti-cancer treatment, though treatment onset was not delayed.

Conclusions:

• Infectious complications of EBUS-TBNA are infrequent but associated with specific procedural and imaging findings.
• Healthcare providers should be vigilant for complications in cases with necrotic lesions or esophageal access.
• Further research is needed to confirm the impact of infectious complications on anti-cancer treatment adherence.