Notes
Slide Show
Outline
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Flexible Bronchoscopy
Part 4C: Transbronchial lung biopsy VOLUME 3
  • Prepared By
  • Bronchoscopy International
  • Contact us at BI@bronchoscopy.org
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Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB)
  • Prepared and distributed by
  • Bronchoscopy International
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Manipulating the bronchoscope during TBLB
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Techniques of TBLB without Fluoroscopy
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Advance the forceps until gentle resistance is met. Then pull back. Patient may have pain if forceps is out to far
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Advance the open forceps again until gentle resistance is met. After closing the forceps, pull back immediately without entering the bronchoscope. Keep the scope wedged.
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Similar technique is used under fluoroscopic guidance
  • Usually 4-5 specimens are obtained
  • Lung parenchyma is obtained by tearing the respiratory bronchioles
  • Forceps to distal may cause pneumothorax
  • Forceps too proximal may cause bleeding



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Left lower lobe fluoroscopic guidance
  • Anterobasal  LB 8
  • Lateral basal LB 9
  • Posterior basal LB 10
  • Superior segment LB 6
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Left upper lobe fluoroscopic guidance
  • Apical posterior LB 1+2
  • Anterior segment LB 3
  • Lingula LB 4+5
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Right lower lobe fluoroscopic guidance
  • Anterior basal RB 8
  • Lateral basal RB 9
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Fluoroscopy is especially useful in case of focal disease
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Fluoroscopy can be performed using C-arm with patient supine or sitting
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Indications for fluoroscopy
  • To localize abnormalities
  • TO help prevent pneumothorax
  • TO extract foreign bodies
  • TO perform biopsy or brushing of solitary pulmonary nodules
  • To improve diagnostic yield
  • To detect pneumothorax
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If necessary, forceps can be advanced into various segments. Position is verified using fluoroscopy before biopsies are obtained
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However, TBLB is “safe” without fluoroscopy
  • Andres  G et al, Chest 1988;94:557
    • TBLB: 122 with & 135 without Fluoroscopy
      Diagnostic yield higher for focal diseases with Fluoro (pre-CT era), complication rate same
  • Mulligan S et al, ARRD 1988; 137:486
    • N=168, Retrospective, AIDS & PCP, yield and complications same
  • Puar HS, Chest 1985: 87:303
    • N=68, Sarcoidosis, Yield 76%, 1 Pneumo
  • Computed tomography scans can help avoids need for double image fluoroscopy
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Complications after TBLB
  • Review of 22 prospective studies of BLB (1974-1991)*
  • Fluoroscopy employed in 19 studies
  •   BLB      PTX   Bleed  Death
  • Total (n) 4,252      167       89    5
  • Percent         4.0       2.1     0.1
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Preventing bleeds during and after TBLB
  • Avoid biopsy in bleeding diatheses.
  • Maintain wedge position after biopsy.
  • Avoid excessive suction after biopsy. Instead, use gentle brief suction to assess degree of bleeding.
  • If bleeding is excessive: gently instill 5-10 ml iced-saline through FFB, wait for 30 sec, then suction gently.
  • Epinephrine, 1:10,000 (1-3 ml) via FFB is usually not useful if bleeding is distal


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True or False: A chest radiograph should always be performed after TBLB
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False. Chest radiographs are not always necessary after TBLB
  • Fluoroscopy can reveal lung collapse
  • Pneumothorax occurs in < 3 % of patients.
  • Chest 2006;129:1561-1564
    • Among 350 consecutive biopsies, chest radiograph within 2 hours after procedure revealed pneumothorax in 10 patients, 7 of whom were symptomatic
  • Chest radiographs are probably indicated only in symptomatic patients.
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TBLB in special circumstances
  • Pulmonary arterial hypertension
  • Renal failure
  • Antiplatelet agents
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TBLB in Pulmonary arterial hypertension
  • TBLB is not a primary diagnostic test for PAH.
  • Bleeding following TBBX is from bronchial artery circulation which carry systemic pressures.
  • In patients with supra-systemic PAH, bronchoscopy itself is high risk because of severe hypoxemia.
  • As of 2007, a single animal study has shown safety of TBLB when MPA pressure were high (33 mm Hg).
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TBLB in Renal Failure
  • Check INR & platelet count
  • Bleeding time can be misleading
  • Dialysis within 24 hrs prior to procedure with TBLB
  • Correct INR and platelet count if necessary (<1.5, >50,000)
  • Desmopressin (DDAVP) 3µg/kg, IV 30 min prior to the procedure  costs $ 1000, potential use of DDAVP analogues, estrogen, Cryoprecipitate)
  • Risk of bleeding is about 8%


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Clopidogrel should be discontinued at least 5 days before TBLB
  • N=604 patients,
  • Clopidogrel = 18
  • Clopidogrel + aspirin = 12
  • Control = 574


  •  Bleeding frequency:
  • Clopidogrel = 16/18 (89%)
  • Clopidogrel + aspirin = 12/12 (100%)
  • Control group = 20/574 (3.4%)
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Other antiplatelet agents and Anticoagulants
  • Aspirin (1) , Ticlopidine need not be discontinued
  • Warfarin (Coumadin) should be discontinued until INR <1.5
    (or INR corrected using Fresh Frozen Plasma or Vitamin K)
  • I.V. Heparin should be stopped 2-6 hrs prior to biopsy. Check PTT.
  • Low molecular weight heparin should be held 12 hrs (hold previous dose).
  • S.Q. Heparin is safe and can be continued.
  • Follow recommendations for all other newer anti-coagulants and other agents.
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Prepared with the exert assistance of Udaya Prakash M.D. (Mayo Clinic, USA), and Atul Mehta M.D. (Cleveland Clinic, USA), and John Conforti M.D. (Wake Forrest, USA)
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This presentation is part of a comprehensive curriculum for Flexible Bronchoscopy. Our goals are to help health care workers become better at what they do, and to decrease the burden of procedure-related training on patients.
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All efforts are made by Bronchoscopy International to maintain currency of online information. All published multimedia slide shows, streaming videos, and essays can be cited for reference as:
  • Bronchoscopy International: Art of Bronchoscopy, an Electronic On-Line Multimedia Slide Presentation. http://www.Bronchoscopy.org/Art of Bronchoscopy/htm. Published 2007 (Please add “Date Accessed”).