Role of open lung biopsy in patients with diffuse lung infiltrates and acute respiratory failure.

Abstract

OLB is associated with a low perioperative mortality rate and acceptable morbidity rate in patients with diffuse lung infiltrates and acute respiratory failure, including those patients with ARDS. In this study, a specific diagnosis was obtained by OLB in more than half of patients with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates and ARDS. In addition, OLB resulted in either use of a new therapeutic strategy or elimination of unnecessary treatment in nearly one-half of patients (46.9%).