Abstract
Background: TBLC stands validated against surgical lung biopsy (SLB) in pathological diagnosis of ILD. TBLC complications are pneumothorax (PTX), bleeding and hypoxemia. Most ILD patients are elderly with multiple comorbidities which may increase risk of TBLC. Multiple guidelines on TBLC has not addressed the issue of TBLC safety in association with comorbidities.
Aims & Objectives: To study the impact of various comorbidities on the safety/complications of TBLC.
Materials and Methods: The study included consecutive patients undergoing TBLC. Demographic features, clinical history, radiological findings & pulmonary function tests were noted. The relationship between various comorbidities and safety/complications of TBLC were studied.
Results: 196 patients (58.6% females) were included in the study. Mean age was 57.3 years (±12.4), mean FVC 55.3% (±18.6), & mean SpO2 92.5% (±3.88). Major comorbidities included hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, chronic kidney disease and chronic liver disease. 89 patients had > 1, 45 had > 2, 9 had > 3, and 1 had 4 comorbidities. Mean biopsy size was 28.62 m2 (±6.22), average number of biopsies was 4.1 (±0.92). Common patterns were UIP, NSIP, HP, Sarcoidosis, & OP in 22.5%, 25.5%, 26.5%, 6.7% and 9.7% cases respectively. Major complications noted were PTX (20.4%) and bleeding >20 ml (9.6%). None of the comorbidities, alone or in combination had a significant impact on the safety of TBLC (logistic regression, chi-square).
Conclusion: The presence of comorbidities, including combinations does not impact the safety/ complications of TBLC. This report helps to establish the safety of TBLC in these subgroups. Such patients often excluded from SLB for pathological diagnosis may be safely subjected to TBLC.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 1580.
This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2020