Pneumothorax after percutaneous transthoracic lung biopsy. Non-invasive management in order to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations

Abstract

Image-guided percutaneous transthoracic lung biopsy has become a widely used and less invasive diagnostic method. Pneumothorax is the most frequent complication after lung biopsy. The aim of the present study is to describe the experience with expectant management of asymptomatic small post-biopsy pneumothorax in order to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. A retrospective review was performed analyzing the results of subjects who underwent expectant and conservative treatment after presenting pneumothorax following percutaneous lung biopsy, in a period of 6 years (January 2013 - December 2019) 160 subjects who underwent diagnostic percutaneous lung biopsy of lung nodules were evaluated. Of these, 46 subjects (29%) presented pneumothorax, of which 36 were small. This group of subjects was managed expectantly, with a therapeutic success of 81% (7 subjects had to undergo percutaneous pleural drainage). Expectant management in subjects with pneumothorax following percutaneous lung biopsy is a useful tool and should be applied by surgeons in order to avoid hospitalizations and / or unnecessary and expensive procedures.