To analyze the clinical efficacy of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) to elderly patients under the support of intravenous anesthesia.

One hundred and twenty four elderly patients suspected with mediastinal lymph node metastases through the chest enhanced CT examination were collected and received TBNA from May 2014 to August 2016 in our hospital. The patients were divided into two groups: intravenous anesthesia group (60) and general anesthesia group (64). The result of diagnostic accuracy, the change of blood pressure, SpO₂, heart rate and breathing rate, and adverse reaction were compared. Student t test was used for numeric data, and Chi-square test was used for categorical data.

The diagnostic accuracy of TBNA were 73.3% (44/60), significantly higher than in intravenous anesthesia group 53.1% (34/64) (χ2=5.420, P< 0.05). The patients in intravenous anesthesia group had less nausea, bucking, short of breath, and fear than in control group (t=8.422, 8.767, 7.445, 6.423, and P< 0.01).The turbulence of blood pressure, heart rate and breathing was less in intravenous anesthesia group than in general anesthesia group (t=57.197, 63.147, 4.774, 116.234, and P< 0.01).

The TBNA operation of mediastinal lymphphadenopathy is safe, comfortable, effitive under the support of intravenous anesthesia. It is worthy of clinical application.