Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Undergoing Diagnostic Surgical Lung Biopsy

Previous studies have shown conflicting results about safety of surgical lung biopsy (SLB) in usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)/idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients. Study design: we performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent SLB between 2003 and 2013 at the University Hospital of Modena (Italy), to assess morbidity and mortality among patients with UIP/IPF , as compared to patients with other diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (non UIP/IPF). Results: we analyzed 73 patients with (n=29) and without (n=44) UIP/IPF, in which medical history, histology, and survival status were collected. UIP/IPF was diagnosed according to international guidelines. In 59 patients lung biopsy was performed via video-assisted thoracoscopy; in 14 patients thoracotomy was conducted. No intraoperative complications were observed. Postoperative complications were not significantly different between groups and consisted of fever (n=1 in UIP/IPF group; n=4 in non-UIP/IPF group), pneumothorax (n=1 in non-UIP/IPF), pleural effusion (n=1 in non-UIP/IPF), and acute exacerbation (n=1 in both groups, who died). There was no 30-day, 60-day and 90-day mortality. Conclusions: we conclude that surgical lung biopsy can be safely performed in patients with suspected UIP/IPF.