At North Orlando Surgical Group, we are proud to have established a unique surgical practice characterized by superior skills and extraordinary services both to the patient we care for as well as their referring physicians. We are recognized in Central Florida for our ability to perform complex procedures in the least invasive way. Our attentive staff is focused on providing the highest level of personal services and are committed to making every patient’s surgical experience as comfortable and convenient as it can be.
A lung biopsy is a procedure that is performed to get a sample of lung tissue for diagnosis of disease. One method of biopsy is thoracoscopic lung biopsy. A thoracoscope is a device that allows your doctor to perform a biopsy in a minimally invasive manner, eliminating the need for a large incision in the chest. Some reasons that your doctor may recommend a biopsy are a new finding on chest exam or a change in a known nodule on subsequent studies. Some diagnoses that can be made using a thoracoscopic lung biopsy are:
• Lung cancer
• Interstitial Lung disease
• Mesothelioma
• Sarcoidosis
Once your doctor has determined that you would benefit from a biopsy the procedure will be scheduled in the operating room. When you wake up from the procedure you will have a chest tube in place in order to help your lung re-expand. You can expect to stay in the hospital for a few days while your lung heals. When the lung has re-expanded and the chest tube has been removed you will be clear to go home. Your discharge instructions will advise you to call the doctor’s office as soon as you get home in order to schedule a follow up appointment, which is generally about 2 weeks after your discharge from the hospital. At that visit your sutures will be removed and you will have the opportunity to discuss the pathology results with your doctor.
Undergoing any surgery can be frightening, especially when it is for a biopsy. Having a skilled physician who with extensive experience can go a long way in alleviating some of this fear. At North Orlando Surgical group we understand this. Our physicians are highly skilled in all sorts of minimally invasive procedures, including thoracoscopic biopsies. It is this skill set that allows us to provide you the answers you need without the need for a long recovery and with a minimum of pain. If you have had a recent abnormal study and are in need of a biopsy, please call our office right away for a consultation with our physician.