Relevance of training in transbronchial fine-needle aspiration technique.
Transbronchial fine-needle aspiration (TBFNA) is a valuable and low-risk procedure that provides access to mediastinal nodes. To learn if increased experience improved TBFNA performance, we compared overtime TBFNA diagnostic yields between a skilled bronchoscopist and another without experience on TBFNA technique. We found higher TBFNA yields in the experienced bronchoscopist (p < 0.001); however, after some experience, the TBFNA reliability improved (p < 0.02) and the use of the procedure increased (p < 0.0001). Thus, to achieve acceptable TBFNA results, a training period is required that we estimate in about 50 procedures.
Rodríguez de Castro
F
F
Sección de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Ntra. Sra. del Pino, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Spain.
Díaz López
F
F
Serdà
G J
GJ
López
A R
AR
Gilart
J F
JF
Cabrera Navarro
P
P
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000473:pathology*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity