Impact of sedation type on diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA: General anesthesia vs moderate sedation

Introduction: Data about diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA according to sedation type used during procedure, are controversial. Some investigators argue that general anesthesia (GA) has more diagnostic yield while others suggest EBUS-TBNA under moderate sedation (MS) results in comparable diagnostic yield with under GA. Aim: To compare impact of MS and GA on diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA. Methods: Retrospective review. All cases underwent EBUS-TBNA between 2008-2014, of whom medical records including final diagnoses, TBNA cytological examinations were accessible, enrolled. MS was performed with midazolam (2-5 mg) and fentanyl (25-50 mcg) or morphine (10 mg). GA group received total intravenous anesthesia. Chi-square, Fischerexact tests were performed, where appropriate. Results: Final diagnosis and diagnostic yield for each group are shown in Table 1. Overall 7 patients (7.1 %) in GA group and 13 patients (17.3 %) in MS group experienced complications including hypoxemia, arrhythmia, respiratory failure, inadequate sedation (p Conclusion: EBUS-TBNA under GA has more diagnostic yield than with MS, particularly in patients with benign diseases. Complications are more common in MS group.