Disease prevention is essential to maintaining he alth. The latest equipment of the 21st century makes it possible to diagnose and prevent the development of complex diseases. Among such modern methods, a lung biopsy shows itself well, which is aimed at examining lung tissue for the presence of pathologies. What is this method, how effective is it, and how should one prepare for this study?
Lung biopsy: the purpose of the procedure and its meaning
Lung disease is fairly easy to detect with computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound. However, any diagnosis needs to be confirmed, especially if serious illnesses such as pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, or cancer are involved.
Lung biopsy is a method that can 100% confirm or refute the diagnosis. Its essence lies in the study of lung tissue of the patient. The studied material can be of any size, and the features of its collection depend on the location of the focus of the pathology or disease. Actually, depending on these factors, a lung biopsy can be performedin several ways.
When to do a lung biopsy
First of all, this study is aimed at confirming the diagnosis, and not at detecting pathology. The latter is done with the help of the simplest measures, among which are ultrasound and computed tomography. What diseases are treated with a lung biopsy?
These are pathologies:
1. Pneumonia.
2. Tuberculosis.
3. Pulmonary fibrosis.
4. Interstitial tissue injury.
5. Accumulation of pus.
6. Cancers and more
These and many other diseases can be a reason for such a manipulation as a lung biopsy. How is the study carried out and what are the features of its conduct?
Types of lung biopsy
There are several ways to obtain material for research. The choice of one of them depends on the localization of the focus of inflammation, the place of appearance of foreign tissues, pus. What is a lung biopsy, how is the study performed?
1. Bronchoscopy.
This method is used to detect pathologies in the upper respiratory tract, trachea and bronchi. It is carried out using a special device - a bronchoscopic tube, which is inserted into the nasal or oral cavity. It has a small camera at the end that allows the surgeon to see the inside walls of the airways. The operation usually takes no more than an hour.
2. Needle biopsy.
This method is used to extract damaged organ tissues thatare close to the chest. The instrument is a long needle, which is inserted into a pre-made incision up to 4 mm long. A puncture is done simultaneously with an ultrasound or CT scan to track the position of the needle relative to the site of tissue sampling. The procedure takes the same 60 minutes.
3. Open lung biopsy.
If a relatively large piece of organ tissue is needed for research, an incision is made in the chest and the material of the required size is taken. The difference with this method is that it is possible to capture a large piece of lung tissue.
4. Thoracoscopy.
Lung biopsy can be performed using modern medical technology. Thoracoscopy is one such example where miniature instrumentation and very small cameras are used. This makes it possible to carry out the operation accurately and without major damage to the skin (only two small incisions are made). Also, rehabilitation after thoracoscopy is faster than with major surgery.
Feelings after examination
Lung biopsy involves surgical or physical manipulation of human organs. Naturally, after the operation, discomfort may occur: sore throat, itching, severe hoarseness.
Anatomical intervention is associated with damage to integumentary tissues. During such an operation, anesthesia is used, so the person does notfeels pain. If we are talking about puncture, then when the needle is inserted and its tip comes into contact with the lungs, there is a slight burning sensation, stinging.
Open biopsy is performed under anesthesia. After the operation, the patient will feel drowsy and slightly weak. Rehabilitation after thoracoscopy is completely different: the procedure is almost painless, it passes quickly, and most importantly, rehabilitation does not take much time.
Contraindications
Is lung biopsy safe? The consequences of this examination may be different, since it is associated with a violation of the integrity of the skin or mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. To avoid possible complications, the procedure is not performed if the patient has the following abnormalities:
1. Extreme heart failure.
2. Oxygen starvation.
3. Anemia.
4. Poor blood clotting.
5. Respiratory failure.
6. Increased pressure in the lungs.
7. Knots in the airways.
Any of these factors could be a reason not to have a biopsy. However, it is worth remembering that rehabilitation depends on the degree of development of the lung disease itself, and not only on the above malformations.
Conversation with the doctor before the examination
Many patients are interested in how to prepare in advance for surgery. Here are a few key points:
1. Do not eat or drink 6-12 hours before surgery.
2. Need at least 3 daysstop taking anti-inflammatory pills.
3. The same applies to drugs that thin the blood.
The last point is a consequence of the surgical intervention in the study of the patient. The problem is that invasive examination is always accompanied by hemorrhage. Its intensity depends primarily on the preparation of the doctor, however, taking blood thinners can aggravate the situation.
Before the operation, you must definitely undergo another ultrasound, CT or chest x-ray. It is also necessary to donate blood for analysis.
Immediately before the operation, the doctor should talk to you. He should know the following things: are you pregnant or not (if the patient is a woman), are you allergic to any drugs, are you currently taking medication, are there any problems with blood clotting.
How does the patient feel during and after the biopsy?
It is clear that the most reliable method for determining the pathologies of the respiratory system is a lung biopsy. How this analysis is done is also already clear, but patients who are to undergo such a procedure have quite natural questions. Does the person experience pain during the operation? What side effects of the study may occur during the rehabilitation period?
The operation itself is performed under anesthesia, which completely eliminates pain. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of a biopsy, it is enough to listen to the doctor and follow his requirements.
In the process of rehabilitation, dry mouth is considered the norm,hoarse voice. The patient may also complain of shortness of breath or chest pain. Sometimes there are complications such as pneumothorax or hemoptysis. However, they are extremely rare.
Analysis of research results
Lung biopsy is performed to make an accurate and correct diagnosis associated with pathologies of the respiratory system. After conducting this study, it takes from 3 to 5 days before the results are ready. There is also such a type of analysis as an extended biopsy. In this case, the results will be ready no sooner than in 2 weeks.
Most often, a biopsy is performed to confirm the diagnosis or after CT/ultrasound, which revealed suspicious lesions in the lungs or airways.
By what signs can one judge that the state of the respiratory system is normal? Firstly, by the absence of bacterial and viral cells, pus. Secondly, according to the normal structure of the cells of the tissue of the organ, which completely excludes the presence of benign or malignant tumors. All lung biopsy results are recorded and entered into the patient database.
