Complications of EBUS TBNA

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive procedure with a high safety profile and widely used for diagnosing and staging thoracic diseases. However, like any invasive procedure, it also carries risk of complications, ranging from minor to severe. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the potential complications associated with EBUS-TBNA, their underlying mechanisms, risk factors, and management strategies. This chapter will also cater to common and rare complications that can happen while performing EBUS TBNA.Over the last decade, endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has become a minimally invasive and highly accurate method for sampling intrathoracic lymph nodes [1]. However, data on complications associated with EBUS-TBNA are not only limited but are also likely to underestimate the true complication rate due to underreporting [2]. The complications of EBUS-TBNA are similar to the complications that occur while performing fibre-optic bronchoscopy.