Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a specialised procedure provided at St Mary’s Hospital to help diagnose conditions affecting the glands surrounding the main airways (the tubes that carry air to the lungs). 

This procedure allows doctors to take samples from the lymph glands (nodes) which can be assessed by our microbiology and cytology laboratories.

Clinics

Endobronchial ultrasound clinic

Address

Gastrointestinal/endoscopy unit 
Second floor
Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother (QEQM) building
St Mary’s Hospital
Praed Street
London W2 1NY

Please note: The entrance to the QEQM building is located on South Wharf Road. 

Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings

Contact

Phone: 020 3312 1836

Meet the team

Respiratory consultants 

Dr Clare Ross, head of specialty, respiratory
Prof Onn Min Kon, head of specialty, tuberculosis

Dr Melissa Wickremasinghe
Dr Rudy Sinharay

Specialist respiratory nurse

Theslyn Whyte

Patient information

Before your appointment

We are usually able to schedule appointments within seven days of referral. You will receive a telephone call from one of our nurses who will explain the procedure and how you can prepare for it.

In brief, you will be asked not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS). You may have small sips of water up to two hours before your appointment.

Information about your appointment, including what will happen during the EBUS and what to expect afterwards, can be found in our EBUS patient leaflet.

During your appointment

When you arrive you will make your way to the endoscopy unit on the second floor of the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother (QEQM) building at St Mary's Hospital. Here you will check in with the reception staff.

Before the procedure, your doctor will explain what it involves and answer any questions you may have. You will then be asked for your consent. If you do not understand what you are being told, let the doctor know so they can clarify.

As we are an academic health science centre, you may be asked to give consent for your samples to be used for medical research into respiratory infections. This is a personal choice and you are under no obligation to do so.

Patient information leaflets

Refer to this service

GP referrals

Please use NHS e-Referrals to refer a patient to our endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) service. 

Secondary care referral

If you wish to refer a patient for an EBUS, please complete the referral form and send to Helen Crawford, Dr Onn Min Kon’s PA, who will ensure the referral is vetted and images reviewed for suitability by one of the EBUS consultants.

Email: helen.crawford1@nhs.net
Phone: 020 3312 1344

Prior to referral

Please ensure that all patients have a recent (within five days of the intended procedure) clotting profile and full blood count (FBC). the team need to know if the patient is on any anti-coagulation or anti-platelet agents, and the indication for these.

Please ensure that all imaging is sent to St Mary’s radiology department prior to the date of the EBUS.

Preparing your patient

Patients will receive a telephone call from one of our nurses, explaining the procedure and how they can prepare for it. In brief, they will be asked not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before their EBUS. They may have small sips of water up to two hours before their appointment.

Patients will need a blood test to check that they are not at risk of bleeding. This will usually be done by the doctor who suggests they have this test, but may also be arranged separately. Please ask the patient if they are diabetic or are taking any medication to thin their blood, such as warfarin, aspirin or clopidogrel.