ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the learning curve of transbronchial needle aspiration by evaluating the procedure time and the positive rate for respiratory physicians who have already mastered the bronchoscopy. Methods Clinical data of 60 patients who received TBNA procedure from May 2013 to August 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into four groups (A, B, C, D) according to the time sequence of receiving the TBNA procedure, 15 patients in each group were set as a learning stage. The patients were received TBNA by the same doctor. The average time in each stage of puncture, positive rate, and puncture complications were compared among each groups. Results There did not show any significant differences in gender, age, etc. (P > 0.05) among the four groups. Puncture time in group A (15.2 ± 2.0) min and in group B (14.7 ± 2.2) min were significantly longer than that in group C (8.3 ± 1.6) min and in group D (7.6 ± 1.3) min (P < 0.05). In terms of the positive rate after the puncture, group A (26.7%) and group B (33.3%) were significantly lower than group C (80.0%) and group D (80.0%) (P < 0.05). There were no significantly different between group A and group B, and group C and group D in terms of puncture time and positive rate. Complications in each group was similar to intravascular puncture, after-puncture bleeding, pneumothorax, mediastinal hematoma, mediastinal bleeding and mediastinal infection did not show significant differences. Conclusion The learning curve of transbronchial needle aspiration for respiratory physicians who havemastered the bronchoscopy is around 30 cases.