• Reference Number: HEY1576/2025
• Departments: Cardiac Surgery
• Last Updated: 30 April 2025

Also Known as an electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy (ENB)

Introduction

This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about your procedure Navigational Bronchoscopy procedure. Most of your questions should be answered by this leaflet. It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and your doctor but may act as a starting point for discussion. If after reading it you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with a member of the healthcare team caring for you.

What is a Navigational Bronchoscopy

A flexible tube known as a bronchoscope which is passed down on to your lungs with the intention of taking a tissue biopsy. This technology uses electromagnetic GPS technology combined with your CT scan and computer programming to develop a three-dimensional map of the lungs and airways. This allows the operator, your surgeon to biopsy the area of your lung which corresponds to the area shown or identified on your scans as having an area of concern or change.

Why is this type of surgery being offered

This procedure allows your surgeon to navigate deep into your lungs to biopsy areas which would, before the introduction of this technology would be difficult to biopsy. Your surgeon has deemed this to be a suitable procedure to offer you. The procedure obtains suitable tissue samples which lead to a diagnosis in around 70 to 80% of cases

What are the complications or risks

All types of surgical procedure carry risks. Potential risks or complications associated with this procedure include, bleeding, infection and potential injury to the lung.

How do I prepare for robotic surgery?

There is no specific preparation for the surgery however you should eat well and exercise within your limits, you should be as physically fit and well Nourished as this prepares you for the procedure and your recovery afterwards. If you have signs of an infection for example a cough, cold or sore throat your procedure may be postponed.

What will happen?

This section should explain precise details of:

• You will be admitted to ward 27 Castle Hill Hospital the day before your procedure.
• You will be greeted by a member of the ward team on your arrival
• Your surgeon will perform your procedure
• The procedure will be performed under a general anaesthetic
• You would generally be allowed home later in the day following your procedure

What Happens afterwards?

• You will be encouraged to be mobile following your procedure
• Any histology results may take 2 to 3 weeks to process, sometimes longer
• Recovery period is around 2 days
• Expected length of stay in hospital vary between 1 or 2 days
• Following the procedure you may have a cough for a few days
• You will be contacted by your surgeon around two weeks following your discharge from the ward who will check on your recovery and explain the biopsy results. You may also be contacted by the Macmillan Thoracic Surgery Lung CNS Team with any further information for example if your case has been discussed in the Lung Cancer MDT and there is information to give you following this. The lung Cancer MDT is a meeting or gathering of consultants and specialist nurse involved in your care who discuss your case at key points in your investigation, treatment and management.
• Follow-up treatment and management, this will depend on the histopathology or biopsy findings.

Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this leaflet, please do not hesitate to contact Ward 27 Castle Hill Hospital on tel: 01482 461621 or the Macmillan Lung CNS Team on tel: 01482 461090.

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about you

We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.