The SEQUENCE Trial: Evaluating Diagnostic Yield of Robotic-assisted Bronchoscopy When Staging EBUS is Performed First or Second in the Same Procedure

Conditions

• Pulmonary Nodules

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Accepted

Interventions

• Order of bronchoscopy procedures for peripheral nodule biopsy — PROCEDURE
  Patient scheduled to undergo peripheral nodule biopsy of the lung under bronchoscopy typically get both a nodule biopsy as well as a linear EBUS of the lymph nodes to assess for any disease spread. This procedure will randomize patients to either getting the peripheral nodule first or linear EBUS of the lymph nodes first and assess overall diagnostic yield as the primary outcome.

Study Details

Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (RaB) has afforded proceduralists the ability to accurately reach the periphery of the lung for biopsy of pulmonary nodules1. This has paved the way for patients to undergo both biopsy of a peripheral nodule and a staging linear endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) in the same anesthesia event, promoting quicker throughput from discovery of a lesion to guideline-adherent treatment2. Further, introduction and mainstream utilization of cone-beam CT (CBCT) has provided the bronchoscopist the ability to refine needle position with tool-in-lesion confirmation3. While there are no randomized clinical trials promoting efficacy of RaB and CBCT in comparison with other bronchoscopic methods, in single center retrospective studies, diagnostic yield has consistently proven to be in the 70-85% range, superior to prior technologies4-6. One of the limitations of utilization of RaB and CBCT is the detrimental effect that atelectasis plays in the bronchoscopy procedure. This can lead to false positive radial EBUS (rEBUS) signals and non-diagnostic procedures7. This incidence of atelectasis has been evaluated prospectively, using a protocol featuring 8-10 cmH2O of PEEP and limiting hyperoxia8, and results suggest this ventilator strategy does an adequate job preventing intraprocedural lung collapse. However, this study only evaluated incidence of atelectasis and did not elaborate on its impact on diagnostic yield. Further unknown is the optimal sequence of performance of RaB and a staging linear EBUS in patients with a radiographically normal mediastinum. Starting with either the RaB or Linear EBUS both have their pros and cons. The benefit to performance of a linear EBUS first is the potential to obviate the need for peripheral nodule biopsy by obtaining rapid, on-site pathologic feedback of occult nodal disease, reducing some of the risk of the procedure (i.e. bleeding and pneumothorax).6 Conversely, the pitfalls to performing linear EBUS first is the possible contribution of atelectasis resultant of the increased time from intubation to peripheral nodule biopsy, blood in the airway causing bronchospasm, and resorption atelectasis from hyperoxia9. There are no prospective data evaluating this in a randomized fashion, but one Monte Carlo simulation (with assumption of diagnostic yield from navigational bronchoscopy of 70% when performed first and 60% when performed second) suggested a higher diagnostic yield and less need for repeat procedure in the navigation first group, despite a 10% assumption of occult nodal disease10. As outlined in the specific aims above, the overarching goals of this study are to assess in a multicenter, randomized clinical trial performed by members of the Interventional Pulmonary Outcomes Group (IPOG), whether sequence of staging EBUS plays a role in diagnostic yield, incidence of atelectasis, and safety outcomes in patients undergoing RaB.

Key Dates

Start date

Nov 10, 2024

Status verified

Nov 2024

Primary completion

Nov 1, 2026

Completion

Apr 1, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment

320 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Arms

• Active Comparator: Linear EBUS First
  Patients will undergo a mediastinal lymph node evaluation with EBUS first, followed by biopsy followed by robotic-assisted bronchoscopy
• Active Comparator: Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy first
  Patients will undergo a robotic-assisted bronchoscopy first, followed by a mediastinal lymph node evaluation with EBUS second

Primary Outcome Measure

Diagnostic yield from the procedure [ Time Frame: This will be assessed 30 days after the procedure in a study visit that our teams conduct, it will not include the patient ]

Central Contacts

• Chris Kapp Assistant professor of medicine, MD
  312-695-3800
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

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