Navigational Bronchoscopy
Learn about the Navigational Bronchoscopy examination.
What is Navigational Bronchoscopy?
Navigational bronchoscopy is a visual examination of the lungs.
Navigational bronchoscopy is a visual examination which is done along with a CT scan to maneuver the bronchoscope (a flexible tube with a small camera) into the smaller airways of the lungs.
Why the Test is Performed
A bronchoscopy may be done after another scan of the lungs (X-ray, CT scan, or MRI) has shown a suspicious spot warranting a closer look. It is done instead of open surgery, reducing both risk of complications and recovery time for the patient. It can also be used to diagnose lung cancer in early stages.
What is a lung nodule?
A lung nodule is a spot in the lungs that can be seen with a chest X-ray or CAT scan. It is usually discovered not by symptoms a patient is experiencing, but during the course of conducting another test. More than half of all lung nodules are noncancerous (benign). Lung nodules have many causes, including old scars and infections, exposure to certain chemicals, and smoking. The only way to find out what type of nodule you have, and if any sort of treatment is necessary, is to take a tissue sample, or biopsy, and examine it under a microscope.
Are you a candidate for the procedure?
An ENB™ procedure can be used with a broad range of patients, including those who suffer from poor lung function or have an increased risk of complications with invasive procedures. More than 50,000 patients have had the procedure, at over 600 leading medical facilities worldwide.
How to Prepare for the Test
Your doctor will need to know all medications and supplements you are taking. You may be asked to stop some medications one week prior to the test. Arrange for a ride to and from the procedure. Do not drink or eat anything after midnight the day before your procedure. You may be given medication to relax you and local anesthetic to numb the throat. In some cases, general anesthesia is administered so you will be completely asleep.
What Happens During the Test
A CT scan will be done to highlight the areas where the scope will need to go. Your doctor will use this information to guide the scope. The bronchoscope will be inserted into your throat, down your windpipe, and into the lungs. The CT scan will assist your doctor in reaching the area where the scope needs to go. A small sample of tissue may be taken and markers may be placed for further treatment if necessary. The procedure will take approximately one hour.
Differences in Procedures
In a traditional bronchoscopy procedure a thin lighted tube (bronchoscope) is passed down the throat, but can only reach the central area of the lungs. With an ENB™ procedure, your physician is able to navigate to nodules even in the most distant areas of the lung in a minimally invasive way. Other biopsy options use more invasive techniques with higher risk of complications.
More invasive procedures come with a greater risk of complications. Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) is the most common risk. Rates can be as high as 40% for procedures such as needle biopsies. Pneumothorax occurs in less than 3% of ENB™ procedure patients. Because it is a minimally invasive option that uses your natural airways, an ENB™ procedure has a lower risk of complications.
What can I expect during & after this procedure?
During the ENB™ procedure, you will be sedated and your physician will insert a bronchoscope through your mouth or nose and into your lungs. Once the tube is in place, your physician will insert specially designed tools to take a biopsy for testing. In some cases, small markers, about the size of a grain of rice, may be placed near the lung nodule to help guide a physician delivering follow up treatment or therapy. The procedure generally takes between 30 minutes to an hour.
After your procedure your samples will be sent to a laboratory for testing. Talk to your physician about when you’ll review results and discuss any next steps that might be recommended. For more information please call 315-361-2035.
Navigating Your ENB™ Procedure
- Your CAT scan is converted into a 3D roadmap
- Your physician uses this roadmap to guide a bronchoscope to the spot on your lung
- Your Physician will know the location of the bronchoscope in real time with the help of tracking sensors on your chest and a location board under your back.
- Without making an incision, your physician can take a sample of the lung nodule for testing. Small markers may also be placed near the lung nodule to help guide a surgeon or other physician, if follow-up treatment is necessary.
- The samples taken during ENB™ procedure will be evaluated and your physician will contact you with the results.
Potential Risks of the Test
Risks of this procedure are rare, however, smoking may increase your risk. Some possible complications may be:
- Bleeding
- Collapsed lung
- Irregular heart rate
- Infection
- Sore and swollen throat