AIM:Analyze diagnostic yield and complications obtained with transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) using cryoprobes in patients with diffuse interstitial lung disease. METHODS: All TBLB performed with a cryoprobe (ERBE Flexible cryoprobe L900mm) were evaluated between January 2012-January 2014. TBLB is done in an operating room with intubated patient. Taking into account a suitable clinical-radiological association,TBLB were classified in 4 groups.RESULTS: TBLB was performed in 36 patients with a mean age of 59.16±9.5 years old. 55.5% of patients were men. 22(61%) had previous bronchoscopy, BAL in 15(41.6%) and BTB in 4(11%). We made 2.7±0.8 biopses per patient. We made 99 biopsies, obtaining a valid sample in 97.22%. In a 61% TBLB were made in RIL. Table shows the results TABLE 1 DIAGNOSIS TOTAL % ACURATE DIAGNOSIS (58.3%) UIP 7 19.4 HP 4 11.1 Sarcoidosis 3 8.3 Drug-induced interstitial lung disease (D-I ILD) 1 2.7 Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis 1 2.7 Emphysema 1 2.7 Alveolar hemorrhage 1 2.7 Connective tissue disease-associated NSIP 1 2.7 COP 1 2.7 Adenocarcinoma 1 2.7 HIGH PROBABILITY (16.6%) UIP 2 5.5 HP 1 2.7 DIP 1 2.7 D-I ILD vs Idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia 1 2.7 COP 1 2.7 VALID BUT NONSPECIFIC Unclassifiable 7 19.4 NO VALID Without lung parenchyma 2 5.5 Hemorrhage occurred in 18 cases (50%):mild in 77.8%, moderate in 16.6% and severe in 5.5%.5 patients (14.3%) had a pneumothorax,4 required drainage.CONCLUSIONS:1-TBLB with cryoprobes is a feasible technique for obtaining samples of lung parenchyma in diffuse interstitial lung disease with a high diagnostic yield. 75% of cases got an accurate diagnosis or a high probability diagnosis. 2-Minor bleeding was the most common complication.
Martín et al. (Mon,) studied this question.