Transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy: evaluation of the blood patch technique.

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Abstract
A study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of the blood patch technique in the prevention of pneumothorax after transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy. A total of 140 needle biopsies were performed with a coaxial system. Two groups of patients were defined according to whether or not autologous blood was injected into the introducing needle as it was withdrawn after needle aspiration biopsy. Fifty-two biopsies were performed with the blood patch technique (group A), while 88 biopsies were performed without the blood patch technique (group B). The frequency of post-biopsy pneumothorax was 28.8% (15 of 52 patients) in group A and 34.1% (30 of 88 patients) in group B. Chest tube insertion was required in 7.7% (four of 52 patients) in group A and in 9.1% (eight of 88 patients) in group B. There was no statistically significant difference in pneumothorax rate and chest-tube insertion rate between the two groups (P > .05). In this series of 140 biopsies, the blood patch technique failed to affect the rate of pneumothorax after transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy.