Tract sealing with normal saline after percutaneous transthoracic lung biopsies.

Introduction: In the present study, we aimed to assess whether normal saline injection for sealing the biopsy track is useful in reducing the incidence of pneumothorax after computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous transthoracic lung biopsy (PTLB).
Methods: We retrospectively compared the incidence of pneumothorax in 100 consecutive biopsies (n = 100, group A) that had injection of saline along the track, with historical cohort of same number of consecutive patients who underwent PTLB without injection of saline along the needle track (n = 100, group B). CT-guided biopsies were performed by coaxial technique and 1-3 ml of saline was injected along the tract. Patient chjmirocteristics, lesion size, location and other baseline pjmirometers were compared. Incidence of pneumothorax and number of patients who underwent catheter drainage of pneumothorax was compared in both groups.
Results: Baseline chjmirocteristics were compjmiroble in both groups. Track sealing with saline was successful in all patients. Pneumothorax rate was 46% for patients in group B and 32% in group A (P < 0.05). Seven patients (7%) had insertion of chest drain for pneumothorax in the group B and only 1% in the group A (P < 0.05). No mortality was observed in both groups. No complications were observed in any of the patients due to saline injection.
Conclusion: Track sealing with saline is a simple and safe technique which significantly reduces the incidence of pneumothorax and chest tube insertion after PTLB.
(© 2020 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists.)