How painful is a lung biopsy?

Depending on which method is used, a lung biopsy is differently painful. In general, one can say that a lung biopsy is a somewhat painful procedure. As a rule, bronchoscopy should not cause pain.

The mouth and throat area is sufficiently anaesthetized and the tissue sample from the lung usually causes no pain. Of course, slight pain and an unpleasant sensation can still occur. If necessary, a painkiller can be administered at any time.

In transthoracic fine needle biopsy, the skin and muscles in the area to be punctured are anaesthetised with a local anaesthetic. The tissue sample itself is usually not painful either. Of course, slight pain or an unpleasant sensation can still occur.

If necessary or if pain occurs afterwards, a painkiller can be taken at any time. Since a thoracoscopy is preferably performed under general anaesthesia, it is usually not painful either. In most cases, the painkillers given during the anaesthesia are still effective for a while after the anaesthetic, so you should not feel any pain. If pain occurs in the recovery room or afterwards on the ward, you can always ask for a painkiller.

Do you need anesthesia for a lung biopsy?

A lung biopsy via bronchoscopy or fine needle biopsy is usually performed without anesthesia. The mouth and throat area is anaesthetised with a spray during a bronchoscopy. In a fine needle biopsy, the area to be punctured is anaesthetised with a local anaesthetic.

In addition, sedatives or a sedation can be given. A lung biopsy via thoracoscopy is usually performed under general anesthesia. If necessary, however, this can also be performed under sedation.

Evaluation

The tissue sample is sent through to the pathology department or special laboratories. Here histological, cytological, immunological or genetic tests can be performed. Your attending physician will inform you in advance about which tests will be performed.

Especially for genetic tests, prior clarification is necessary. Depending on which tests are carried out, the result also takes different lengths of time. The results from the pathology are usually available within a few days.

What are the risks?

A lung biopsy is generally a low-risk procedure. However, bleeding or a pneumothorax (air between the two lung skins) may occur. Therefore, before the lung biopsy, the coagulation values are checked to minimise the risk of bleeding.

Pneumothorax can occur, especially in the case of a transthoracic lung biopsy. For this reason, an X-ray is then taken for control. In rare cases an infection may occur. In the case of a transthoracic lung biopsy or fine needle biopsy, the skin is disinfected, the surrounding area is sterilely covered and sterile materials are used to avoid possible infections as far as possible.