Open lung biopsy. Its effects on therapy in the pediatric patient

The records of 35 pediatric patients who had open lung biopsies at Columbus Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, were analyzed to determine the results and the effects on therapy. Twenty-two (63 percent) of these patients were immunocompromised, and they are compared to the non-compromised group. A diagnosis was obtained in all cases. An infectious agent was identified in 13 (37 percent) of the patients. Ten of these were immunocompromised. In 43 percent (15 patients) of the total group and 55 percent (12 patients) of the immunocompromised group, the results of the biopsy effected a change in therapy. Five patients died, all of whom were immunosuppressed. None died as a direct result of the open lung biopsy. The total morbidity rate was 23 percent (eight patients). We concluded that open lung biopsy can be accomplished safely in the pediatric patient and that the results affect the therapeutic decision-making process a significant portion of the time.