The Role of Ultrasound in Accessing the Distal Radial Artery at the Anatomical Snuffbox for Cardiovascular Interventions.

In an effort to refine transcatheter vascular interventions, radial artery access has moved more distally at the anatomical snuffbox. Here, more challenges appear as the artery is smaller, more angulated, and more difficult to palpate. Including ultrasound guidance as a mandatory step during puncture may encourage more operators to switch to this approach. In the femoral approach, ultrasound guidance is strongly recommended because of bleeding complications, whereas in the proximal (conventional) radial approach, the role of ultrasound remains optional, and in current practice, almost all cases are performed by palpation of the pulse only. However, in distal radial access, the situation is different because the artery differs in caliber and position, and imaging can help the operator for a clean puncture, especially since repeated punctures are not only painful but also any hematoma formation leads to the complete compression of the artery and failure of access. The aim of this review is to investigate the rationale of vascular ultrasound during distal radial access and to establish some techniques and anatomical landmarks for the ultrasonographic exploration of the dorsal area of the hand.

Biopsy of peripheral lung nodules utilizing cone beam computer tomography with and without trans bronchial access tool: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Currently there are several techniques for endoscopic diagnosis of parenchymal lung abnormalities. Electromagnetic navigation with or without endobronchial ultrasound for diagnosis of the above has been well described. Bronchoscopic Trans Bronchial Access Tool is a novel endoscopic technique that creates a virtual pathway to the lesion and is less limited by location of the airway. The CrossCountryTM Transbronchial Access Tool (CovidienTM, Plymouth, MN, USA) is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved off airway device that utilizes a catheter equipped guide sheath for a trans-parenchymal approach to a distal lesion. Cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) is a real-time onsite extrathoracic navigational modality used in the bronchoscopy suite that allows for an open working channel. All three of the above modalities can have reasonable diagnostic yields when used independently. While utilizing the above tools we frequently found ourselves in situations where one technique was not enough, prompting the use of a combination of modalities to obtain the most efficient and accurate diagnosis. We are reporting the feasibility and safety of utilizing these three modalities in conjunction with one another. METHODS: Patients with peripheral pulmonary nodules on chest computed tomography underwent a navigation bronchoscopy under general anesthesia. CBCT and radial ultrasound was used in every case to confirm navigation to the target lesion. Lesions without definitive airways leading to them were accessed with the transbronchial access tool (TBAT). RESULTS: Electromagnetic bronchoscopy using CBCT and radial US was performed on 22 patients from April 2016 to September 2016. The TBAT tool was used in 7 patients. The overall diagnostic yield was 77.2% (17 of 22). Diagnostic yield of with use TBAT was 100% (7 of 7). There were no complications. Average case length was 79.95 (range, 50-124) minutes and average fluoroscopy time was 10.39 (1-21.7) minutes. CONCLUSIONS: TBAT is a useful and safe tool when accessing peripheral pulmonary nodules and is used in conjunctions with electromagnetic navigation and CBCT.

State-of-the-Art Modalities for Peripheral Lung Nodule Biopsy.

Lung nodules are being increasingly detected, particularly with lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography. Although the vast majority of lung nodules are benign, many often require tissue diagnosis. Several modalities to obtain diagnostic tissue from peripheral lung nodules are available. Bronchoscopic modalities such as radial ultrasound and electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy are becoming increasingly used because of their superior safety profile and improving diagnostic yield. Although these modalities continue to become more advanced, newer and complementary technologies appear promising.

Diagnosti value of joint evaluation of radial ultrasound, virtual navigation and ultrathin bronchoscope in peripheral pulmonary nodules / 重庆医学

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of radial ultrasound (EBUS) combined with virtual navigation (VBN) in peripheral pulmonary nodules.Methods Two hundreds and forty cases of peripheral pulmonary nodules(0.8 cm≤diameter≤3 cm) in the respiratory department of our hospital from July 2014 to July 2015 were included and according to the different guide de vices,which were divided into the radial ultrasound combined with virtual navigation group (EBUS+ VBN group),radial ultrasound group (EBUS group),virtual navigation group (VBN group) and control group.The diagnostic rates were compared among the four groups and among different sizes of lesion.The time of lesion location and operating time were also compared between the EBUS+ VBN group and EBUS group.Results Among 240 cases,the diagnostic rate in the EBUS+VBN group was highest(81.67％),and the diagnostic rates had statistically significant difference among the four groups (x2=19.344,P=0.00);the diagnostic rates of lesions less than 2 cm in diameter were lower than that of lesions ＞2 cm in the EBUS+-VBN group and EBUS group,but without statistically significant difference (x2 =2.04,3.40,P =0.15,0.07);the locating lesions time and operating times in the EBUS+ VBN group were shorter than those in the EBUS group,but the difference between them was not statistically significant (P=0.03,0.04).Conclusion EBUS combined with VBN could improve the diagnostic rate of peripheral pulmonary nodules and shorten the time of lesion location and operating time.

Can ultrasound be used to estimate bone mineral density in children with growth problems?

AIM: To assess predictability of bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (LS) determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) using by ultrasound speed of sound of the right and left radii (SOS-R and SOS-L) in patients with growth problems. METHODS: Ultrasound and DXA were compared in patients with advanced, normal and delayed bone ages assessed by Greulich and Pyle (GP) and Tanner and Whitehouse (TW3) methods. RESULTS: There was a strong correlation (r), of raw scores, between SOS-R and SOS-L, r = 0.81, p = 0.000 and their respective Z-scores, r = 0.78, p = 0.000. Z-score correlations were poor between SOS-R or SOS-L and LS-BMD. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of SOS-R and Z-scores for predicting normal (>-1 to <1) and low (<-1) LS-BMD were poor. For high (>1) LS-BMD, Z-scores were 22%, 93%, 29% and 90%, respectively, for SOS-R and for SOS-L, 25%, 89%, 20% and 91%. For very low (<-2) LS-BMD, SOS-R and SOS-L were the same, respectively, 29%, 91%, 40% and 86%. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound of the radius is a poor predictor of radiologically assessed BMD at the LS, especially with delayed bone age.