EBUS

Endobronchial Ultrasound or EBUS:

In the last decade, EBUS has emerged as the diagnostic procedure of choice in evaluating undiagnosed intrathoracic lymphadenopathy. EBUS is also the current modality in the mediastinal staging of lung cancer. CT, PET-CT, and Mediastinoscopy are regularly used to show potential nodal inclusion. However, these scans are inconsistent when staging mediastinum and hilar regions.

Flexible bronchoscopy has recently been used to test suspicious lesions. According to the best bronchoscopy specialist in Kolkata, endoscopy is limited to the airways, making it hard to precisely and securely peribronchial structures and lymph nodes.

Potential of EBUS:

Endobronchial Ultrasound is a bit tricky diagnostic device that utilizes constant ultrasound imaging to broaden the endoscopist’s view past the outside of the airways. Synchronous visualization of ultrasonic and bronchoscopic imaging improves sensitivity and lessens biopsy sampling mistakes. The patient undergoing this procedure should be provided with local anesthesia and made to lie down in a supine position.

EBUS-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) permits adequate examination of all intrathoracic lymph nodes adjacent to the bronchial tree. This includes all the nodes which are unreachable by other techniques. EBUS-TBNA is an excellent asset for the best chest specialist in Kolkata for evaluating patients with lung cancer.

The phases of carrying out EBUS:

After the patient is treated with anesthesia and placed in the supine position, white light bronchoscopy is generally the first stage. EBUS scope is then introduced to the trachea, avoiding irritation to the vocal cords. The scope then carries out to identify and visualize the target lymph nodes. On identifying this target lymph node, the EBUS needle is inserted through the working channel.

After inserting the needle, it may cause the scope to push away from the bronchial wall. This can disrupt the ultrasound image. The best pulmonologist in Kolkata offers methods to remedy this, which include gently advancing the EBUS scope.

Analyzing the EBUS scan:

When reviewing the CT or PET-CT scans, the operator must consider whether the purpose of EBUS is diagnostic, staging, or both. For a diagnostic EBUS, there is a collection of samples from the most convenient lymph nodes. For staging EBUS, lymph nodes are systematically examined by EBUS, and there is a sampling of all nodes more significant than 5 millimeters. There should be at least three lymph node samples.

Most EBUS scopes have an ultrasound processor integrated into the tip. It also has a working channel that has a dedicated 19, 21, or 22 gauge needle. Appropriate needle selection will depend on the clinical situation. The 19 gauge needle is more flexible and can reach the most challenging lymph nodes.

How EBUS introduced new possibilities:

As told by the best asthma allergy specialist in Kolkata, bronchial wall thickness assessment in asthma patients is suitable. Even though the EBUS-TBNA procedure is a breakthrough in medical history, the medical staff has to check on many optimal conditions.

With the untimely breakout of the current pandemic, COVID-19 has increased the risk of infection. The best covid specialists in Kolkata say that bronchoscopy is a vital diagnostic that should be carried out in all suspected lung cancer cases.