Archivos de bronconeumología
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Arch. Bronconeumol. · Mar 2012
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialVideo-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy in the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease: a prospective, multi-center study in 224 patients.
To evaluate whether the location and number of lung biopsies obtained by video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT) influence the diagnosis of diffuse interstitial lung disease (ILD). To assess the applicability of an Ambulatory Surgery Program (ASP). ⋯ Anatomical location and number of lung biopsy specimens did not seem to influence the diagnosis. The patients included in an ASP had a complication rate comparable to that of the hospitalized, so this procedure can be included in a surgical outpatient program. Lung biopsy obtained by VAT is a powerful and safe tool for diagnosis of suspected ILD, resulting in a definitive diagnosis for the majority of patients with a low morbidity rate.