title: Open lung biopsy for diffuse parenchymal lung disease in children.
abstract: An open lung biopsy was performed in 12 children with diffuse parenchymal lung disease. A definitive histopathological diagnosis was obtained from all procedures but determined treatment options in only 10 children (83%). Three (25%) children were ventilated for respiratory failure prior to the procedure. Four (44%) of the other 9 children required ventilatory support after the procedure. Three (25%) children developed post-op pneumothorax that resolved fully with chest tube drainage. There were no deaths as a direct result of the procedure. Open lung biopsy is useful in providing a definitive diagnosis in children with diffuse parenchymal lung disease and determining treatment in the majority of cases. The procedure was well-tolerated with minimal complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University Malaya Medical Center, 50603 Kuala Lumpur.
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Ramanujam
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lum
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Debruyne
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D045743:Scleroderma, Diffuse