Open pleural biopsyDefinition: An open pleural biopsy is a procedure to remove and examine the tissue that lines the inside of the chest. This tissue is called the pleura.
Alternative Names: Biopsy - open pleura
How the test is performed: An open pleural biopsy is done in the hospital using general anesthesia , which means you are asleep and do not feel pain during the surgery. A tube will be placed down your throat to help you breathe. The surgeon will make a cut in the left or right side of the chest. A piece of tissue is taken from the chest area, and sent to a laboratory for examination. After surgery, the wound is closed with stitches.
How to prepare for the test: You will be asked not to eat or drink for 8 hours before the test.
How the test will feel: You will be asleep during the procedure. There will be some tenderness and pain where the surgical cut is located. You may have a sore throat after the test due to the breathing tube.
Why the test is performed: This procedure is used when the surgeon needs a larger piece of tissue than that which can be removed with a pleural needle biopsy . It is also performed when there are no body fluids in the pleura or when a direct view of the pleura and the lungs is necessary. This procedure may also be done to examine a metastatic pleural tumor .
Normal Values: The pleura will be normal.
What abnormal results mean: Abnormal findings may suggest:
What the risks are: There is a slight chance of: - Air leak
- Excess blood loss
- Injury to the lung
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