Video Thoracoscopic Lung Biopsy in Diffuse Interstitial Lung Diseases
PRATHEEP RIANTAWAN,M.D.,M.Sc.,M.R.C.P.(UK)*, TAWEETONG KOANANTAKOOL,M.D.**, TAWEESAK CHOTIVATANAPONG,M.D.**, CHOOSAK KASEMSARN,M.D.**, UGRIT CHARUPATANAPONGSE, M.D.**, CHAIVUD YODTASURODOM, M.D.**
Affiliation : * Division of Academic Medicine, ** Division of Surgery, Central Chest Hospital, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand.
Abstract The present study examined the use of video thoracoscopic lung biopsy (VTLB) in diffuse interstitial lung disease, in comparison with open lung biopsy (OLB). Twenty and fifteen patients underwent VTLB and OLB, respectively, from 1987 to 1997 at the Central Chest Hospital, Thailand. Data in mean (SO). The mean age was 39 years in both groups. VTLB yielded equiva- lent size of lung tissues, 4.7 (2.32) cm3, and was as diagnostically useful as OLB. Estimated blood loss, 60 (37) mls, and length of pleural drainage, 2.8 (0.5) days, were comparable in either tech- nique. As OLB had been in practice for decades, it took shorter operative time, 64 (II) mins, than VTLB, 105 (30) mins, (p = 0.005). Both VTLB and OLB approaches were safe and not asso- ciated with major postoperative complications.
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