FIBRIN GLUE FOR SEALING THE NEEDLE TRACK IN FINE-NEEDLE PERCUTANEOUS LUNG-BIOPSY USING A COAXIAL SYSTEM .2. CLINICAL-STUDY

Purpose: Following percutaneous lung biopsy (PLB), we used fibrin glue as a sealant in 26 patients for the purpose of decreasing the inciden ce of pneumothorax. Methods: All 26 patients (group A) had chronic obs tructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The results for group A were compar ed with a control group of 32 patients (group B), also with COPD and i n whom fibrin glue was not used, All biopsies were conducted under com puted tomography (CT) using a coaxial needle system consisting of 19-g auge and 22-gauge needles. Results: Pneumothorax developed in five pat ients (19.2%) in group A and in one instance, drainage was required (3 .8%). In group B, pneumothorax developed in 13 patients (40.6%) and in six instances (18.8%) drainage was required. Comparing the use of che st-tube drainage in the two groups, a statistical significance was obs erved, p < 0.025. No adverse reactions related to the fibrin glue were observed. Conclusion. Our results indicate that fibrin glue is a safe sealing material for lung PLB and serves to decrease the incidence an d, in particular, the severity of pneumothorax, especially in high-ris k patients.