Value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided localization with combination of ultrathin bronchoscope and methylene blue for small pulmonary nodules before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

Objective To analyze the value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided ultrathin bronchoscope(EUGUB) and methylene blue positioning video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) for small pulmonary nodules. Methods Sixty patients undergoing VATS, using pre-operative EUGUB combination with methylene blue was performed. The positioning accuracy, the complications and pathological classification were analyzed. Results EUGUB combination with methylene blue positioning accuracy was 91.7%, meanwhile, 2 patients with hemoptysis with no conservative treatment. The postoperative histological pathology results showed that benign lesions and malignant lesions accounted for 28.3% and 71.7%, respectively. Conclusion The method of EUGUB combination with methylene blue in positioning of the small pulmonary nodules increases the achievement ratio of VATS with few complications, and may be widely used in treatment of small pulmonary nodules with VATS. Key words: Small pulmonary nodules Localization Endobronchial ultrasound Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery