Patient education: Lung biopsy – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — 

Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.

What is a lung biopsy? — 

This is a procedure to check an abnormal area of the lung for cancer or other problems. People have 2 lungs, 1 on each side of the chest (figure 1). Each lung is surrounded by a thin layer of tissue called the "pleura." Some types of lung biopsies also look at the pleura.

There are different ways to do a lung biopsy. You might have had a:

●Percutaneous biopsy – The doctor used a needle to remove a tissue sample from the abnormal area of the lung.

●Transbronchial biopsy – The doctor inserted a thin tube called a "bronchoscope" into the lungs to take a tissue sample (figure 2).

●Thoracoscopic biopsy – The doctor made a small cut (incision) and inserted an "endoscope" through the chest wall to take a tissue sample. They might have also removed the abnormal tissue.

●Open lung biopsy – The doctor made an incision in the chest or back to take a tissue sample.

How long it takes for you to recover, and what you need to do, depends on which type of biopsy you had.

How do I care for myself at home? — 

Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also:

●Take all of your medicines as instructed. Make sure that you know when you should start taking any medicines you stopped before the biopsy.

●Take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve). These can be used instead of opioids.

●Take care of your biopsy site – If the doctor made an incision, you might have stitches, skin staples, surgical glue, or a special skin tape.

•Keep the site dry and covered with a bandage for the first 1 to 2 days after the biopsy. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep the area dry.

•Once you no longer need to keep the site dry, gently wash it with soap and water whenever you take a shower. Do not put the site underwater, such as in a bath, pool, or lake. This can slow healing and raise your chance of getting an infection.

•After you wash the site, pat it dry. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to put an antibiotic ointment on the incision. They will also tell you if you need to cover your incision with a bandage or gauze.

•Always wash your hands before and after you touch your biopsy site or bandage.

●Increase your activity slowly. The doctor might want you to take it easy for the next 1 to 2 weeks. This includes limiting lifting, sports, and activities that could cause rough contact to your back or chest. Tell your doctor if you plan on flying in the next few weeks.

●Call your doctor or make an appointment to talk about your biopsy results. The results are usually available within a few days to a week after a biopsy.

What follow-up care do I need? — 

The doctor will want to see you again after the biopsy to check on your progress. Go to these appointments.

If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will usually want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks. Some stitches absorb on their own and do not need to be removed. If the doctor used skin glue or skin tape, it will fall off on its own. Do not pick at it or try to remove it yourself.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you:

●Suddenly start having trouble breathing

●Cough up a lot of blood

●Have chest pain or tightness

Call for advice if you have:

●A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills

●Drainage, redness, or swelling around the biopsy site

●Severe pain at the biopsy site

●Bleeding from the biopsy site

More on this topic

Patient education: Lung biopsy (The Basics)
Patient education: Pulmonary nodule (The Basics)
Patient education: Lung cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (The Basics)
Patient education: Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) (The Basics)

Patient education: Lung cancer risks, symptoms, and diagnosis (Beyond the Basics)