Pediatric transbronchial lung biopsy.
A retrospective review of 25 transbronchial lung biopsies in 19 pediatric patients is reported. Nineteen of these procedures used a rigid ventilating bronchoscope and a small cup biopsy forceps. The indications included diffuse pulmonary infiltrates in the immunocompromised patient, severe hyaline membrane disease, tumor, and lung transplant. In 84% of the procedures, adequate tissue was obtained. There was a 12.5% incidence of pneumothorax and no significant pulmonary hemorrhage.