CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos performs its first EBUS procedure

San Marcos, TX, August 22, 2022 – CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos is excited to announce it has performed its first Endo Bronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) procedure, as part of its continued commitment to provide the most up to date and innovative care for its patients.

This minimally invasive, outpatient procedure is used to diagnose diseases that occur inside the chest, like lung cancer, infections and other conditions, by obtaining samples from enlarged lymph nodes and masses in the lung.

The EBUS procedure is performed by pulmonologists when abnormalities are detected in a patient’s chest through a CT scan which not only allows the physician to diagnose, but also to determine what stage the lung cancer is in.

“This procedure allows our team to gather information quickly, provides better quality care for the patient, and helps us diagnose certain conditions without the need for a more invasive surgical approach,” said Dr. Chinthaka Bulathsinghala, pulmonologist for CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos.

An EBUS bronchoscope uses a flexible tube with a video camera and an ultrasound probe attached. The camera is inserted through the patient’s mouth and goes into their windpipes and lungs through breathing tubes. The physician, then, typically collects samples from the patient’s lungs and enlarged lymph nodes, taken with a small needle. In all, the procedure takes about an hour to complete.

“This is exciting for the San Marcos community,” said Thomas McKinney, president of the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos. “We are fully committed to providing the best care for our patients, so we are thrilled to be able to diagnose and treat various illnesses in a minimally invasive approach. This exemplifies the innovative health care we are dedicated to providing to our patients, so you don’t have to go anywhere else to receive the best care.”