The safety of outpatient transbronchial biopsy

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) is an accepted outpatient procedure, but transbronchial biopsy (TBB) is generally reserved for hospitalized patients. Over a three-year period, we performed fluoroscopically guided TBB in 148 of 688 outpatients undergoing FOB. Following the procedure, fluoroscopy was us...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inChest Vol. 90; no. 3; p. 403
Main Authors Ahmad, M, Livingston, D R, Golish, J A, Mehta, A C, Wiedemann, H P
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.09.1986
Subjects
Adult
Aged
Ambulatory Surgical Procedures
Biopsy - adverse effects
Bronchoscopy
Fiber Optic Technology
Fluoroscopy
Hemoptysis - etiology
Humans
Lung Diseases - pathology
Middle Aged
Pneumothorax - etiology
Safety
Time Factors
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Summary:Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) is an accepted outpatient procedure, but transbronchial biopsy (TBB) is generally reserved for hospitalized patients. Over a three-year period, we performed fluoroscopically guided TBB in 148 of 688 outpatients undergoing FOB. Following the procedure, fluoroscopy was used to screen for possible pneumothorax in those patients who had had TBB. All patients were observed for one hour and then discharged if stable. Three patients (2.02 percent) were admitted and observed for acute hemoptysis following TBB. Bleeding ceased spontaneously in each. The remaining 145 patients were discharged after one hour of observation. One patient (0.68 percent) required Heimlich tube treatment for a delayed pneumothorax. Our experience indicates a low incidence of delayed complications in patients who are asymptomatic for one hour following TBB. We conclude that patients do not require hospitalization solely for TBB.
ISSN:0012-3692
1931-3543
DOI:10.1378/chest.90.3.403