ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic value of endobronchial ultrasound technology in combination with LungPoint virtual navigation system for pulmonary peripheral nodules. MethodsRetrospective analysis of 317 patients with peripheral pulmonary nodules who underwent endobronchial ultrasound at the endoscopy center of Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from January 2021 to March 2022 was used as the study population. They were divided into the endobronchial ultrasound group (EBUS-GS group) and the virtual navigation combined with endobronchial ultrasound group (VBN+EBUS-GS group) according to whether the path was planned with the LungPoint virtual navigation system preoperatively or not. The diagnostic rate, bronchoscopic arrival rate, arrival time, operation time and complications were compared between the EBUS-GS group and the VBN+EBUS-GS group, and the factors associated with the diagnostic rate of endobronchial ultrasound were analyzed. ResultsThere were 101 malignant nodules and 216 benign nodules. The mean size of lung nodules was (1.9±0.7) cm and (1.8±0.6) cm in the EBUS-GS and VBN+EUBS-GS groups, respectively (P>0.05); The time to reach the lesions was 7 (5 - 9) and 4 (3 - 5) min, and the total operation time was 18 (16 - 20) and 16 (14 - 18) min, respectively (P<0.05). The arrival rates of endobronchial ultrasound in the two groups was 82.6% and 98.1% (P<0.05), respectively. The overall diagnostic rate, malignant nodule diagnostic rate and benign nodule diagnostic rate of the two groups were 61.3% vs. 64.8%, 67.9% vs. 68.6% and 57.6% vs. 63.1% respectively (P>0.05). There was one pneumothorax in the EBUS-GS group after examination (0.6%, 1/155). No complications such as hemoptysis or infection occurred in all patients. ConclusionsLungPoint virtual navigation can significantly improve the arrival rate of lesions under endobronchial ultrasound, significantly reduce the arrival time of endobronchial ultrasound to the lesions and the total operation time, which is beneficial to improve the efficiency of clinical examination.