Defining Optimal Settings for Transbronchial Lung Cryobiopsy II: An Ex-Vivo Human Lungs Model Study for Improvement of Specimen Quality

TBLC is a relatively new endoscopic technique used to obtain lung parenchyma specimens. It is a minimally invasive technique performed with a flexible or rigid bronchoscope under deep sedation or general anesthesia. Flexible cryoprobes of either 1.9 or 2.4 mm in diameter are introduced into a bronchoscope and a compressed gas, most commonly carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide, is released at high flow at the tip of the probe. As the tissue rapidly freezes, it adheres to the probe and is avulsed and extracted with a quick pullback movement followed by immediate extraction of samples.