Impact of the introduction of EBUS on time to management decision, complications, and invasive modalities used to diagnose and stage lung cancer: a pragmatic pre-post study.

Background: Utilisation of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and guide sheath (EBUS-GS) for diagnosis and staging of lung cancer is gaining popularity, however, its impact on clinical practice is unclear. This study aimed to determine the impact of the introduction of endobronchial ultrasound-guided procedures (EBUS) on time to management decision for lung cancer patients, and on the utilisation of other invasive diagnostic modalities, including CT-guided trans-thoracic needle aspiration (CT-TTNA), bronchoscopy, and mediastinoscopy.

Methods: Hospital records of new primary lung cancer patients presenting in 2007 and 2008 (Pre-EBUS cohort) and in 2010 and 2011 (Post-EBUS cohort) were reviewed retrospectively.

Pleuroscopic cryoprobe biopsies of the pleura: a feasibility and safety study.

Background And Objective: Flexi-rigid pleuroscopy is a useful tool in the work-up of pleural effusions, but pleural biopsy using flexible forceps can be difficult in some patients. This study evaluated the feasibility, safety and diagnostic value of using a flexible cryoprobe to obtain parietal pleural biopsies during pleuroscopy.

Methods: This was a single-centre retrospective study.