Transbronchial biopsy in the thrombocytopenic patient

Twenty-five flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopic procedures with transbronchial lung biopsies were performed in 24 severely thrombocytopenic immunocompromised patients (mean platelet count of 30,000/cu mm, with a range of 7,000/cu mm to 60,000/cu mm) during the diagnostic evaluation of pulmonary infiltrates. Three patients had self-limited endobronchial bleeding. A single death was attributable to massive hemorrhage after transbronchial biopsy and brushing. Specific etiologic diagnoses were established by bronchoscopy in nine cases.