Tips and Tricks: EBUS TBNA

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has become an indispensable tool for diagnosing and staging thoracic diseases, particularly lung cancer and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. This chapter provides a practical guide to mastering EBUS-TBNA, focusing on essential tips and tricks that enhance procedural success and patient safety. This chapter gives an outline of what are the precautions to be maintained to obtain an adequate and producible sample.The diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA is influenced by various factors related to the patient, equipment, and operator. Given its minimally invasive nature and high sensitivity, EBUS-TBNA has become the preferred procedure for staging the mediastinum. Numerous studies have scrutinized different aspects of the EBUS-TBNA process to enhance pathological yield, streamline the procedure, reduce unnecessary steps, and mitigate both time and complications. This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive review of the latest updates concerning the technical performance of EBUS-TBNA and elucidate how emerging data can impact its diagnostic efficacy in conditions such as lung cancer, sarcoidosis, and tuberculosis.