FATAL INTRA-THORACIC HEMORRHAGE AFTER PERCUTANEOUS ASPIRATION LUNG-BIOPSY

Because of a lower incidence of complications, aspiration lung biopsy is performed in preference to other closed-lung biopsy techniques. Norenberg et al. noted the increased risk of a cutting type or Vim-Silverman needle in performing closed-lung biopsies. This has been confirmed by Herman and Hessel. The mechanisms of death after aspiration lung biopsy are tension pneumothorax, air embolism, and pulmonary hemorrhage with or without aspiration. Of 1.562 patients undergoing aspiration lung biopsy, the fatality rate was 0.1%. Four documented fatalities from aspiration lung biopsy are recorded in the literaure. This cause reemphasizes the potential hazard of this increasingly common procedure.