The endoscopic investigation of lung lesions is experiencing significant growth with the increasing number of lung cancer screening programs. Peripheral endobronchial ultrasound (pEBUS) is the most widely used endoscopic technique in the investigation of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL). It is performed in relatively equal proportions under conscious sedation and general anesthesia by interventional pulmonologists throughout the world. Users of conscious sedation justify themselves by the fewer resources consumed and the absence of demonstration of a superior diagnostic yield of general anesthesia while users of general anesthesia claim diagnostic yield and comfort for the patient are superior with their approach. Our main objective is to compare the diagnostic yield of pEBUS under general anesthesia to that obtained under conscious sedation.
Age ≥ 18 years and ability to consent
Peripheral lung lesion less than 5cm in average diameter on axial CT images (A lung lesion will be considered peripheral if it is located beyond the origin of the subsegmental bronchi and presumed not to be visible endoscopically in white light during the evaluation of the CT scan by an interventional pulmonologist.)
Lesion deemed accessible by pEBUS by an experienced interventional pulmonologist
Decision by the medical team and the patient to use pEBUS as a diagnostic modality for the lung lesion
Planned use of electromagnetic navigation, augmented fluoroscopy or robotic bronchoscopy in addition to pEBUS. The use of virtual bronchoscopy planning is permitted
Presence of suspicious lymph nodes (size ≥ 10mm and/or moderate or greater hypermetabolism) on imaging which are accessible by l-EBUS and for which rapid on-site cytological analysis will be used
Contraindication to bronchoscopy or biopsies such as an unstable medical condition or uncorrected coagulopathy
Current pregnancy
Parallel
Peripheral EBUS under Concious sedation
Procedure/SurgeryIn the conscious sedation group, the procedure will be performed through the nose or mouth at the discretion of the endoscopist. The patient will remain breathing spontaneously throughout the procedure and will be administered oxygen through a nasal cannula at an initial flow rate of 2L/min. A combination of propofol, fentanyl and midazolam boluses will be used to maintain moderate sedation. At IUCPQ-UL, fentanyl and midazolam will be used as in our routine practice. The boluses will be prescribed by a doctor experienced in conscious sedation (anesthesiologist, intensivist or pulmonologist) according to the patient's state of wakefulness assessed by the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RAS) .Centers will decide, prior to initiating recruitment locally, the drug combination used to sedate patients and they will maintain the use of the same drug combination throughout the study
Peripheral EBUS under General Anesthesia
Procedure/SurgeryIn the general anesthesia group, an endotracheal tube larger than 7 will be used. The patient will be kept non-arousable to non-nociceptive stimulation (RAS = -5) by a perfusion including, at the anesthesiologist's discretion: fentanyl, sufentanyl, remifentanyl, midazolam or propofol. The sedation of this group will not be protocolized given the wide variety of practices in the participating centers, but the targeted level of sedation will be and the medication administered will be adjusted according to this target. The RAS will be evaluated every 5 minutes, or earlier if signs of arousal are present, to ensure that the intended target is maintained and adjustments to the rate of infusions as well as boluses may be made/administered by the anesthesiologist to maintain the targeted level of sedation. Patients may be paralyzed at the discretion of the anesthesiologit. The ventilatory parameters will be standardized according to the VESPA protocol
Diagnostic yield of pEBUS under general anesthesia and conscious sedation
The diagnostic yield of pEBUS according to a strict definition, a procedure being defined as diagnostic if it allows a specific benign or malignant diagnosis using the samples obtained. Non-specific findings not allowing a precise diagnosis and accompanied by a follow-up evolution consistent with the findings (e.g.: non-specific inflammation followed by spontaneous resolution of the lesion) will not be considered diagnostic. Cryobiopies will be excluded from the primary outcome as they cannot be safely performed under conscious sedation. We do not primarly aim to evaluate the added value of cryobiopsy but to compare two modalities of sedation. The comparison between the diagnostic yields for the two types of sedation will be made with a χ2 test, if the distribution of the data is normal
Diagnostic yield of pEBUS
The diagnostic yield of pEBUS according to a strict definition with inclusion of cryobiopsy results. The comparison of the variables will be carried out with a χ2 test
Diagnostic yield of pEBUS
The diagnostic yield of pEBUS according to a strict definition, with and without inclusion of cryobiopsy results, amongst lesions under and over 20mm of average diameter. The comparison of the variables will be carried out with a χ2 test
Diagnostic yield of pEBUS
The diagnostic yield of pEBUS according to a liberal definition, a procedure being defined as diagnostic if it allows a specific benign or malignant diagnosis or if it demonstrates non-specific inflammation and that during follow-up a precise benign diagnosis is established or that the lesion regresses on serial imaging. This analysis will be performed with and without inclusion of cryobiopsies. The comparison of the variables will be carried out with a χ2 test
Duration of the procedure
The duration of the procedure from insertion of the bronchoscope to its removal, excluding the time spent on l-EBUS if applicable
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