UAB Cardiothoracic Surgery Annual Report 2015-16 UAB Medicine Cardiothoracic Surgery 2015/16 Annual | Page 39

THORACIC SURGERY

“The identification of a fiducial marker with high retention rate allows the
placement of fewer markers with an associated cost savings. The VortX coil
fiducial marker showed a statistically significant increase in retention rate
compared with gold seeds or two-band fiducials.”
– Douglas J. Minnich, MD

ELECTROMAGNETIC NAVIGATIONAL
BRONCHOSCOPY
Electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy (ENB) is a minimally invasive procedure that allows physicians to
navigate small airway passages of the lung to assist in earlier diagnosis and treatment of lung lesions. It allows
physicians to biopsy or extract tissue samples that are not accessible with traditional bronchoscopy. UAB has
extensive experience with ENB, being the first in Alabama to perform it and having completed more than 680 of
the procedures since 2012.

Navigational Bronchoscopy Volume: 2012 – 2015
300
200

129

154

178

227

100
0
2012

2013

2014

2015

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