title: The intubated patient with mediastinal disease--a role for esophageal access using the endobronchial ultrasound bronchoscope.
abstract: Ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration using the bronchoscope with a dedicated curvilinear probe has emerged as a primary tool for the investigation of mediastinal pathology. Recently, the utility of this scope has been expanded to include access via the esophagus. In this case series, we describe a role for esophageal ultrasound using the endobronchial ultrasound bronchoscope in the diagnostic evaluation of critically ill/intubated patients with mediastinal disease. Esophageal access with the ultrasound bronchoscope allows the pulmonologist to diagnose mediastinal disease in the intubated patient with minimal risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Nutan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhaskar
authors.forename: Yousef R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Shweihat
authors.forename: Thaddeus
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bartter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed