BACKGROUND: The gold standard for mediastinal lymph node evaluation is mediastinoscopy, which is invasive and allows access to only a limited number of mediastinal lymph node (MLN) stations (1, 2, 3, 4, and 7). Endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EBUS-FNA) is emerging as a useful, less invasive technique that offers access to a wider range of MLN stations (2, 3, 4, 7, 10, and 11). We report our initial experience with this procedure. METHODS: Using our prospectively maintained database, we performed a single-institution retrospective chart review. Our study group consisted of all patients at the University of Minnesota who underwent EBUS-FNA for evaluation of mediastinal lymphadenopathy or for thoracic malignancy staging from September 1, 2006, through December 15, 2007. To assess our learning curve, we plotted the cumulative sensitivity (%) and accuracy (%) of our EBUS-FNA results as a function of the number of procedures we performed. RESULTS: During the study period, 100 patients underwent EBUS, 92 with FNA. Of these, 56 patients (34 women, 22 men; mean age, 60.4 +/- 13.7 years) met our inclusion criteria. We found no complications. After our first 10 procedures, the sensitivity of our EBUS-FNA results was 96.2%; accuracy was 97.8% (rates comparable with other large series in the literature). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the learning curve for EBUS-FNA for thoracic surgeons is about 10 procedures.
BACKGROUND: The gold standard for mediastinal lymph node evaluation is mediastinoscopy, which is invasive and allows access to only a limited number of mediastinal lymph node (MLN) stations (1, 2, 3, 4, and 7). Endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EBUS-FNA) is emerging as a useful, less invasive technique that offers access to a wider range of MLN stations (2, 3, 4, 7, 10, and 11). We report our initial experience with this procedure. METHODS: Using our prospectively maintained database, we performed a single-institution retrospective chart review. Our study group consisted of all patients at the University of Minnesota who underwent EBUS-FNA for evaluation of mediastinal lymphadenopathy or for thoracic malignancy staging from September 1, 2006, through December 15, 2007. To assess our learning curve, we plotted the cumulative sensitivity (%) and accuracy (%) of our EBUS-FNA results as a function of the number of procedures we performed. RESULTS: During the study period, 100 patients underwent EBUS, 92 with FNA. Of these, 56 patients (34 women, 22 men; mean age, 60.4 +/- 13.7 years) met our inclusion criteria. We found no complications. After our first 10 procedures, the sensitivity of our EBUS-FNA results was 96.2%; accuracy was 97.8% (rates comparable with other large series in the literature). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the learning curve for EBUS-FNA for thoracic surgeons is about 10 procedures.
Authors: Matthew J Bott; Bryce James; Brian T Collins; Benjamin A Murray; Varun Puri; Daniel Kreisel; A Sasha Krupnick; G Alexander Patterson; Stephen Broderick; Bryan F Meyers; Traves D Crabtree Journal: Ann Thorac Surg Date: 2015-05-20 Impact factor: 4.330
Authors: Michael T Vest; Lynn Tanoue; Pamela R Soulos; Anthony W Kim; Frank Detterbeck; Daniel Morgensztern; Cary P Gross Journal: J Thorac Oncol Date: 2012-01 Impact factor: 15.609
Authors: Yinin Hu; Varun Puri; Traves D Crabtree; Daniel Kreisel; Alexander S Krupnick; Alexander G Patterson; Bryan F Meyers Journal: J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Date: 2013-09-24 Impact factor: 5.209