Safety of Percutaneous Lung Needle Aspiration

Abstract

To the Editor:We regret that we erroneously cited data from the study by Davidson et al.1Davidson M Tempest B Palmer L Bacteriologic diagnosis of acute pneumonia: comparison of sputum, transtracheal aspirates, and lung aspirates.JAMA. 1976; 235: 158-163Crossref PubMed Scopus (118) Google Scholar In fact, they used a 20-gauge needle (after first placing a skin marker), instead of a 14-gauge needle, to perform PLNA. They had a 16 percent rate of minimal pneumothorax. Using a 22-gauge needle, we reported a rate of 7 percent.2Torres A Jiménez P Puig de la Bellacasa J Celis R González J Gea J Diagnostic value of nonfluoroscopic percutaneous lung needle aspiration in patients with pneumonia.Chest. 1990; 98: 840-844Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (50) Google ScholarRegarding mortality in our series, deaths reported were never related to the PLNA. As for the use of PLNA in the mechanical ventilation setting, we agree with Drs Davidson and Palmer that the evaluation of its safety has to be done very carefully and that more studies are needed. Personally, I believe that an open-lung biopsy in mechanically ventilated patients is more dangerous than PLNA, but this has to be proved. Obviously, the detection of pneumococcal antigen in the material retrieved by PLNA is very useful for a rapid microbiologic diagnosis. To the Editor: We regret that we erroneously cited data from the study by Davidson et al.1Davidson M Tempest B Palmer L Bacteriologic diagnosis of acute pneumonia: comparison of sputum, transtracheal aspirates, and lung aspirates.JAMA. 1976; 235: 158-163Crossref PubMed Scopus (118) Google Scholar In fact, they used a 20-gauge needle (after first placing a skin marker), instead of a 14-gauge needle, to perform PLNA. They had a 16 percent rate of minimal pneumothorax. Using a 22-gauge needle, we reported a rate of 7 percent.2Torres A Jiménez P Puig de la Bellacasa J Celis R González J Gea J Diagnostic value of nonfluoroscopic percutaneous lung needle aspiration in patients with pneumonia.Chest. 1990; 98: 840-844Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (50) Google Scholar Regarding mortality in our series, deaths reported were never related to the PLNA. As for the use of PLNA in the mechanical ventilation setting, we agree with Drs Davidson and Palmer that the evaluation of its safety has to be done very carefully and that more studies are needed. Personally, I believe that an open-lung biopsy in mechanically ventilated patients is more dangerous than PLNA, but this has to be proved. Obviously, the detection of pneumococcal antigen in the material retrieved by PLNA is very useful for a rapid microbiologic diagnosis. Safety of Percutaneous Lung Needle AspirationCHESTVol. 100Issue 6PreviewTo the Editor: Full-Text PDF