Open lung biopsy

Abstract

Open lung biopsy is recommended as a useful procedure for cases demonstrating diffuse bilateral pulmonary lesions, or lesions of obscure etiology, in which all other methods of diagnosis have failed. The morbidity is minimal; the mortality rate should be zero. In three quarters of the cases, a definitive diagnosis will be the reward. Reluctance to submit the patient to this procedure often results in prolonged delay in either the institution of proper therapy or in effecting the proper disposition of the case. Even in those cases with a nonspecific result at biopsy, the clinical diagnosis may often be excluded. We feel that adequate postoperative drainage of the chest is necessary in all cases to reduce the incidence of complications to a minimum. © 1963.