Incidence, severity and tolerability of pneumothorax following low‐dose CT‐guided lung biopsy in different severities of COPD

Abstract

Abstract Background The feasibility of pneumothorax following low‐dose CT‐guided puncture lung biopsy in different severities of COPD has not been reported. Methods The data of the patients with pulmonary lesion who underwent low‐dose CT‐guided lung biopsy by one experienced operator in our hospital from January 1st to September 30th in 2019 were retrospectively collected. They were divided into COPD group and non‐COPD group. The risk factors, incidence and severity of pneumothorax with the severity of COPD and changes in MMRC score, treatment way and discharge time after pneumothorax were assessed. Results Two hundred and nineteen patients were retrospectively enrolled in this study with 64 in the COPD group and 155 in the non‐COPD group. The average age, MMRC score and the incidence of pneumothorax after biopsy were significantly higher in the COPD group (64.7 ± 1.27 years, 1.02 ± 0.13, 31.3%) than in the non‐COPD group (58.8 ± 1.16 years, 0.35 ± 0.06, 17.4%, P 0.05). Conclusion Although the incidence of pneumothorax after low dose CT‐guided lung biopsy is increased in COPD, there was no difference in the severity of pneumothorax amongst the different severities of COPD and it is well‐tolerated without increasing medical burden.

Keywords

• COPD
• CT‐guided percutaneous lung biopsy
• pneumothorax
• risk factor