Endobronchial ultrasound access to the vasculature: systematic review and analysis of the literature

E. Koukaki*^a (Ms), N. Anagnostopoulos^a (Mr), V. Vitsas^b (Mr), P. Emmanouil^b (Mr), G. Stratakos^a (Prof)

^a Interventional Pulmonology Unit of the1st Respiratory Medicine Department National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. “Sotiria” General Hospital, Athens, Greece, Athens, GREECE ; ^b Interventional Pulmonology Unit of Mediterraneo Hospital, Athens, Greece, Athens, GREECE

* e.koukaki@yahoo.gr

Background: EBUS allows to access thepulmonary vasculature. The aim of this review is to assess the role of EBUS for pulmonary embolism, non-thrombotic vascular lesions or vascular tumors, transvascular needle aspiration and T4 staging.

Methods: PubMed and SCOPUS databases were searched for articles in English language reporting the use of EBUS for the above indications. The search was performed up to November 2021.

Results: 112 articles were retrieved of which 44 were excluded. Another 13 articles were identified from reference lists. Finally, 77 articled were included in the study.

A new systematic approach for the detection with EBUS of pulmonary artery filling defects has been proposed. They were found in the literature 78 cases of pulmonary embolism. Moreover, 25 cases of non-thrombotic endovascular lesions were also identified and diagnosed by endobronchial ultrasonography. There have been 240 cases of transvascular needle aspiration for diagnosis of pulmonary or mediastinal lesions and 2 clinical studies of T4 staging with the aid of EBUS or b-EUS.

Conclusion:Cases reports of EBUS/EUS b assessing the vasculature are increasingly found in the literature. The combined endobronchial ultrasonography targeting the vascular or perivascular lesions could increase the diagnostic yield of this procedure with seemingly low complication rates.

Disclosure of funding source(s): none