Injection of Saline Into the Biopsy Tract and Rapid Patient Rollover Decreases Pneumothorax Size Following Computed Tomography-Guided Transthoracic Needle Biopsy

Normal saline injection and rapid rollover; preventive effect on incidence of pneumothorax after CT-guided lung biopsy: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Computed tomography (CT)-guided lung biopsy is a widely used technique for the diagnosis of pulmonary lesions and with a high technical success rate and diagnostic accuracy. On the other hand, it is associated with a high risk of complications, especially pneumothorax. Various methods have been tried to reduce the incidence of pneumothorax, but no established method exists. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the combination of tract sealing with normal saline and rapid rollover can reduce the rate of pneumothorax and chest tube insertion after CT-guided lung biopsy.

METHODS

We reviewed all CT-guided lung biopsies performed at a single institution between October 2016 and December 2021. Before August 2019, no specific additional techniques were employed to mitigate complications (Group 1). In contrast, after September 2019, normal saline for tract sealing was injected during needle removal, and if pneumothorax was observed during the intervention, the patient was rolled over into the puncture-site down position immediately after needle removal (Group 2). The rate of complications was compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

130 patients in Group 1 and 173 in Group 2 were evaluated. There was no significant difference in pneumothorax rate between the two groups (30.0% vs. 23.1%, P = .177). A chest tube was inserted in 10 of 130 patients in Group 1 and only in 1 of 173 in Group 2 (P = .001). There were no complications associated with this combinational technique.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of normal saline injection and rapid rollover significantly reduced the incidence of pneumothorax requiring chest tube insertion after CT-guided lung biopsy. Therefore, normal saline injection and rapid rollover can serve as a preventive method for severe pneumothorax in CT-guided lung biopsy.

Pneumothorax Incidence with Normal Saline Instillation for Sealing the Needle Track After Computed Tomography-Guided Percutaneous Lung Biopsy

PURPOSE

To determine whether instillation of normal saline solution for sealing the needle track reduces incidence of pneumothorax and chest tube placement after computed tomography-guided percutaneous lung biopsy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 242 computed tomography-guided percutaneous lung biopsies performed at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed, including 93 biopsies in which the needle track was sealed by instillation of 3-5 ml of normal saline solution during needle withdrawal (water seal group) and 149 biopsies without sealing (control group). Patient and lesion characteristics, procedure-specific variables, pneumothorax and chest tube placement rates were recorded.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics were comparable in both groups. There was a statistically significant decrease in the pneumothorax rate (19.4% [18/93] vs. 40.9% [61/149]; p < 0.001) and a numerically lower chest tube placement rate without significant reduction (4.3% [4/93] vs. 10.7% [16/149]; p = 0.126) with using normal saline instillation for sealing the needle track versus not using sealant material. Using a multiple logistic regression analysis, using normal saline instillation to seal the needle track, having a senior radiologist as operator of the procedure and putting patients in prone position were significantly associated with a decreased risk of pneumothorax. The presence of emphysema along the needle track was significantly associated with an increased risk of pneumothorax. No complication was observed due to normal saline injection.

CONCLUSION

Normal saline solution instillation for sealing the needle track after computed tomography-guided percutaneous lung biopsy is a simple, low-cost and safe technique resulted in significantly decreased pneumothorax occurrence and a numerically lower chest tube placement rate, and might help to reduce both hospitalization risks and costs for the healthcare system. Level of evidence 3 Non-controlled retrospective cohort study.

Biopsy-tract haemocoagulase injection reduces major complications after CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic lung biopsy

AIM

To determine whether the injection of haemocoagulase into the biopsy tract can reduce pneumothorax and pulmonary haemorrhage after computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous transthoracic lung biopsy (PTLB).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was performed involving patients with undiagnosed pulmonary lesions scheduled for PTLB between January 2020 and March 2021. Patients were assigned to the haemocoagulase group or the non-haemocoagulase group. After CT-guided biopsies were performed with a 17 G coaxial system, patients in the haemocoagulase group received a haemocoagulase injection (0.2-0.5 units) in the biopsy tract as the sheath was withdrawn. Postoperative image studies were performed to evaluate complications, including pneumothorax and pulmonary haemorrhage. Factors, including the patient's position, lesion location, and pathological results, were evaluated to determine their associations with the complications.

RESULTS

A total of 100 patients were included, with 44 men and a mean age of 53 years old. The overall incidences of pneumothorax and pulmonary haemorrhage were 15% and 13%, respectively. The incidences of pneumothorax and pulmonary haemorrhage were statistically significantly lower in the haemocoagulase group (8% and 6%, respectively) than in the non-haemocoagulase group (22% and 20%, respectively; p=0.04 and 0.03, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in haemoptysis between the haemocoagulase (6%) and non-haemocoagulase (2%) groups (p=0.23). There were also no statistically significant associations of pneumothorax or pulmonary haemorrhage with the patients' positions, lesion location, or pathological results.

CONCLUSION

Biopsy tract haemocoagulase injection reduced the incidences of postoperative pneumothorax and pulmonary haemorrhage after PTLB.

Transthoracic Needle Biopsy: How to Maximize Diagnostic Accuracy and Minimize Complications

Although transthoracic needle biopsy (TTNB) was introduced for lung biopsy about 40 years ago, it is still mainstay of pathologic diagnosis in lung cancer, because it is relatively inexpensive and can obtain tissue regardless of the tumor-bronchus relationship. With several technological advances, proceduralists can perform TTNB more safely and accurately. Utilizing ultrasound-guided biopsy for peripheral lesions in contact with the pleura and rapid on-site evaluation during the procedure are expected to make up the weakness of TTNB. However, due to the inherent limitations of the percutaneous approach, the incidence of complications such as pneumothorax or bleeding is inevitably higher than that of other lung biopsy techniques. Thorough understating of each biopsy modality and additional technique are fundamental for maximizing diagnostic accuracy and minimizing the complications.

Effect of puncture sites on pneumothorax after lung CT-guided biopsy

To determine the influence of puncture site on aspiration in dealing with pneumothorax following CT-guided lung biopsy.Two hundred thirty-six pneumothorax patients after CT guided lung biopsies were retrospective analyzed from January 2013 to December 2018. Patients with minor asymptomatic pneumothorax were treated conservatively with monitoring of vital signs and follow-up CT to confirm stability. Ninety of the 236 pneumothorax patients, who underwent manual aspiration, were included in this analysis. In first manual aspiration, the needle from the lesion was retracted back into the pleural space after biopsy, and then aspiration treatment was performed. If the treatment is of unsatisfied result, a second attempt aspiration treatment, which puncture site away from initial biopsy one, was conducted. The efficacy of simple manual aspiration and the new method, changing puncture site for re-aspiration was observed.Immediate success was obtained in 62 out of the 90 patients in the first attempt. The effective rate and failure rate were 68.9% (62/90) and 31.1% (28/90), respectively. Twenty-eight patients in whom first attempt simple aspiration were unsuccessful underwent a second attempt aspiration, which puncture site away from initial biopsy one, was successful in 13 patients with 15 patients undergoing chest tube placement. The effective rate and failure rate were 46.4% (13/28) and 53.6% (15/28), respectively. Applying the modified procedure, total effective rate of aspiration elevated significantly from 68.9% (62/90) to 83.3% (75/90) (P < .05). No serious side effects were detected in the period of aspiration procedure.Manual aspiration with puncture site away from initial biopsy one is worth trying to deal with post-biopsy pneumothorax. This modified procedure improved the efficiency of treatment significantly, and reduced the rate of pneumothorax requiring chest tube placement.