It is a endoscopic procedure where a special scope called EBUS is passed through the oral cavity. This scope passes through the trachea into the lungs where the lesions of the lungs are visualised using a special ultrasound, which is present at the distal end of the scope.
Any lesion that needs to be sampled can then be done through this ultrasound image in a live manner, small size needles of 22 gauge to 19 gauge are used for this purpose.
So if your CT scan is showing lymph nodes in the lungs or central masses, then Physician may refer you to a Pulmonologist for this procedure.
The procedure is a daycare one.
When we do it under local anaesthesia or Deepa Anaesthesia, depending on the lesion and the condition of the patient.
You will be asked to do certain blood parameters before the procedure.
You will also be asked to be empty stomach on the day of the procedure.
The samples are sent to a LAB, where the pathologist examine them.
The reports are expected in a weeks time.
Contra indications to the procedure include any bleeding tendency or if you’re taking any drugs, which causes your blood to go thin also, recent heart conditions will also be a contra indication to the procedure.
The primary applications of the EBUS procedure include the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer and the diagnosis of mediastinal lymphadenopathy. These indications highlight the procedure’s vital role in the early detection and management of serious pulmonary conditions, ultimately contributing to more targeted and effective treatment plans.