Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 3/16/2011

Question
QUESTION: Dear Dr Levy,
On 3/24 I am having a lung biopsy with a needle to find out what my cat scan showed last week.I am really scared about going thru this.The doctor said he could not put me out but that he would give me versed by i/v to help calm my fears.Im also worried about my lung collapsing.With this drug will this be awful to go thru?I have alot of trouble with needles and pain.
Thank You,
Ken Levy
Lincoln City,Oregon

ANSWER: Generally these are done under sedation and the Versed should be enough to calm your fears. The procedure is not as bad as it sounds. They give you some local anesthesia, and with the Versed, the whole thing onyl takes a few minutes. As for the lung collapsing, that is a real possibility and one of the known complications of the procedure but there is no better place for that to happen since you will be in radiology where they can see that and immediately treat it.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: what are the chances of my lung collapsing?

Answer
I really can't quote you a number. Perhaps the radiologists can give you a better idea of that. It is something they should be explaining to you when they have you sign the consent form.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston