Diagnostic Value of Virtual Bronchoscopic Navigation Combined With Endobronchial Ultrasound Guided Transbronchial Lung Biopsy for Peripheral Pulmonary Lesions

OBJECTIVE: X-ray guided transbronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial lung biopsy (EBUS-TBLB) can improve the diagnostic yield of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs), but it needs special requirements. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical value of virtual bronchoscopy navigation (VBN) combined with EBUS-TBLB in the diagnosis of PPLs without X-ray guidance. METHODS: The 105 patients with PPLs underwent EBUS-TBLB with or without VBN randomly. The diagnostic yield, the operation time and complications were evaluated in the 2 groups. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the VBN+EBUS group and the EBUS group (76.0% vs. 65.5%, P = 0.287). The operation time of VBN+EBUS group was significantly shorter than that of EBUS group (20.6 ± 12.8 min vs. 28.6 ± 14.3 min, P = 0.023). No severe procedure related complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: VBN can shorten the operation time. The combination of VBN and EBUS-TBLB is a safe and effective diagnosis technique for PPLs.