PLEURAL BIOPSY – Pre-Procedural Care, Procedure, Post-Procedural Care and Complications
Biopsy specimens may be taken from various respiratory tissues for examination. As mentioned previously, specimens from tracheobronchial structures may be obtained during bronchoscopy. Biopsy specimens of scalene and mediastinal nodes may be obtained (with local anesthesia for pathologic study, culture or cytological assessment)
PRE-PROCEDURAL CARE
- Obtain inform consent, and instruct the client about the need for and purpose of the rest
- Preparation and positioning of a client for pleural biopsy are similar to those for thoracentesis
- Inform the client, the test is painful, and the client must hold still
- Assist and reassure the client. The test takes 15-30 minutes to complete
PROCEDURE
- Pleural biopsies can be performed surgically through a small thoracotomy incision or during thoracentesis, with the use of a cope needle
- Needle biopsy is a relatively safe, simple diagnostic procedure that can help to determine the cause of pleural effusion
- The needle removes a small fragment of parietal pleura, which is used for microscopic cellular examination and culture
- If bacteriologic studies are needed, the biopsy specimen should be obtained before chemotherapy is begun
POST-PROCEDURAL CARE
- After the biopsy procedure, observe the indications of complications (dyspnea, pallor, diaphoresis, excessive pain)
- Follow-up chest X-ray studies are usually done after the procedure
COMPLICATIONS
- Rare complications include temporary pain associated with intercostals nerve injury and pneumothorax
