DIAGNOSTIC YIELD AND SAFE OF RADIAL ENDOBRONCHIAL ULTRASOUND (R-EBUS) FOR PERIPHERAL PULMONARY LESIONS (PPLs) IN BEGINNERS

Bronchoscopy is essential when studying PPLS, but techniques such as fluoroscopy may have limitations. Developing new technologies like R-EBUS can make bronchoscopy more successful. Data are limited when the physician is learning. <bold>Objective:</bold> analyse the utility and safety of R-EBUS in beginners and which factors can contribute. <bold>Methods:</bold> We registered all patients who underwent R-EBUS for PPL (without guide-sheath) and fluoroscoscopy from May to December 2023. Every procedure was done by 2 interventional pulmonologist, without R-EBUS experience, with superficial sedation and spontaneous respiration (no anaesthesia). <bold>Results:</bold> 48.6% women, 72 (65-77) years old, mean diameter of PPLs was 28 (20-37) mm, final diagnoses included 82.9% malignant. Overall diagnostic yield was 72,7% (24/33). Table 1 describes diagnostic yield based on lesions characteristics. When the probe location was concentric within the lesions it was associated with higher diagnostic yield (70.8% vs 44%;p=0.1). There were no major complications during or after the procedure. We compared a historical series of transbronchial biopsies (BTB) guided only by fluoroscopy with our R-EBUS series. When R-EBUS was used, diagnostic yield increased by 12%. Complications decreased significantly (BTB 28,1% vs R-EBUS 9,1%, p=0,03). <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Bronchoscopy rentability and security when studying PPLs increases incorporating new tools such as R-EBUS, even when the procedure is done by a beginner.