New procedure at Baptist East provides access to difficult-to-reach

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) provides a new, minimally-invasive approach to diagnosis of lung cancer, infections and other diseases that cause enlarged lymph nodes in the chest. The procedure combines ultrasound with endoscopy to provide images and access to samples in and around the bronchial tree or the lungs, including areas beyond the bronchial wall not accessible with a traditional bronchoscope.

Baptist East is one of only a handful of healthcare facilities in the area to offer the procedure, which is performed on the hospital’s Endoscopy unit. According to pulmonologists using the technique, EBUS allows easier access to diseased tissue, lymph nodes and lesions outside of the bronchial airways. The tissue or fluid samples obtained this way can be used for diagnosing cancer and infections, as well as diseases such as sarcoidosis.

The accuracy and speed of EBUS can also enable quicker pathologic evaluation. And, since the procedure does not involve surgery or incisions to provide access to the chest, patients generally recover faster and go home sooner.