Feasibility of a Supraglottic Airway Device for Transbronchial Lung Cryobiopsy—A Retrospective Analysis

Objectives To determine the feasibility of a supraglottic airway device for transbronchial cryobiopsy in adults. Design Retrospective analysis of anesthetic and pulmonary records between March 2015 and August 2016. Setting Single university medical center. Participants One hundred thirty-two patients who underwent transbronchial cryobiopsy procedures performed under general anesthesia. Interventions Not applicable. Measurements and Main Results Failure-free use of a supraglottic airway device was 96.8%. Failure of supraglottic airway device insertion was 3.1% because of impossible placement (n = 1), high oropharyngeal leakage (n = 1), massive bleeding requiring bronchial blocker (n = 1), and acute right heart failure with cardiac arrest requiring resuscitation (n = 1). No serious adverse events due to the supraglottic airway device were observed. Conclusion The data demonstrated that transbronchial cryobiopsy under general anesthesia and airway management with a supraglottic airway device was a feasible technique.