Open lung biopsy

An open lung biopsy is done in the hospital using general anesthesia . This means you will be asleep and pain free. A tube will be placed through your mouth down your throat, and into your windpipe (trachea) to help you breathe. The surgery is done in the following way: After cleaning the skin, the surgeon makes a…

You should tell your surgeon if you are pregnant, allergic to any medicines, or if you have a bleeding problem. Be sure to tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including herbs, supplements, and those bought without a prescription. Follow your surgeon's instructions for not eating or…

When you wake up after the procedure, you will feel drowsy for several hours. There will be some tenderness and pain where the surgical cut is located. Most surgeons inject a long-acting local anesthetic at the surgical cut site so that you will have very little pain afterward. You may have a sore throat from the…

The open lung biopsy is done to evaluate lung problems seen on x-ray or CT scan .

The lungs and lung tissue will be normal.

Abnormal results may be due to: Benign (not cancerous) tumors Cancer Certain infections (bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic) Lung diseases (fibrosis) The procedure may help diagnose a number of different conditions, such as: Rheumatoid lung disease Sarcoidosis (inflammation that affects the lungs and other body…

There is a slight chance of: Air leak Excess blood loss Infection Injury to the lung Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)

Chernecky CC, Berger BJ. Biopsy, site-specific - specimen. In: Chernecky CC, Berger BJ, eds. Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures . 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:199-202. Wald O, Izhar U, Sugarbaker DJ. Lung, chest wall, pleura, and mediastinum. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox…