Does anyone know the procedure for a needle biopsy of nodules in the lung? Do they sedate you?

Answer 1

A nodule is defined as a relatively round lesion that is less than three centimeters in diameter. A lung nodule is located within the lung itself, not in the airways. A patient with a lung nodule usually experiences no symptoms; the nodule is most often detected on a chest x-ray. More than half of solitary or single nodules within the chest are benign, or non-cancerous, usually due to a previous infection. However, all solitary chest nodules are considered potentially malignant until proven otherwise, and for this a needle biopsy may be required.

A biopsy involves removing a small piece of tissue for examination by a physician. A needle biopsy, sometimes called a needle aspiration, is the easiest way that tissue can be safely removed from the body. The procedure, which is most often performed by a radiologist or interventional radiologist, involves a needle that is inserted through the skin. The needle biopsy may use a syringe or an automated needle to obtain the tissue sample.

Once a nodule is detected, a computed tomography (CT) or positron emission tomography (PET) scan may be performed to help characterize it and to help estimate the likelihood of malignancy. If the CT or PET scan cannot clearly identify positively benign features in the nodule, a needle biopsy may be necessary. When a physician orders a needle biopsy, the nodule is usually believed to be unreachable by other diagnostic techniques, such as bronchoscopy.-

Once the location of the nodule is confirmed , the entry site is marked on the skin. The skin around the insertion site will be scrubbed and disinfected, and a clean and sterile drape will be applied. A LOCAL ANESTHETIC WILL BE INJECTED to numb the path of the needle through the skin, muscle and lining of the chest cavity. Then, a small incision, approximately 1/8 of an inch, will be made into the skin, so that the biopsy needle can be inserted.-

Answer 2

Yes, I was put to sleep. After the biopsy i had to lay flat on my back for 2 hours before i could leave the hospital. they go through your back and they use a ct scan while inserting the needle into the nodules of the lung. Not pain full, you will never know that you had it done.

Answer 3

A little info I think should be considered about this drug Versed ( Midazolam ) that is used for Sedation for many medical procedures..Sedation and General Anesthesia are not the same and quite a few people being given Sedation
think they are being given General Anesthesia!

There is simply no good or valid reason to ever purposely induce amnesia during a medical procedure. It is only a recent development in medical thinking that amnesia is somehow a "benefit" to the patient. On occasion some
some patients will remember a bad experience. Forgetting does not mean it did not happen!!
I feel that if people were aware of the effects of this drug they would Opt For Another Drug!
Erasing someones memory of what was done to them is wrong!!
In fact, many people who use Versed for " IV Sedation,Conscious Sedation" Twilight Sedation, during a procedure are Awake For The Entire Procedure but remember nothing, often Believing They Were "Out" the whole time.

Versed (Midazolam) is an amnestic. It is also commonly used for minor procedures like setting broken bones,colonoscopies,endoscopies, dental procedures like extractions,conscious sedation,twilight sleep, so that patients won't remember pain and discomfort.HOWEVER THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THOSE SENSATIONS WILL NOT BE EXPERIENCED!!!!

A note from an anesthesiologist
I agree that using midazolam alone in painful situations is wrong. I've heard people getting colonoscopies and screaming, and maybe they remember, maybe they don't.

A note I got from someone on Yahoo Answers who did have a bad experience..This is very disconcerting... My sister said she heard me screaming from the waiting room but assumed it wasn't me. When we left we heard another female patient screaming. I did a lot of research since your post, thanks so much for the info.

Here is a note from a Dentist Who uses Versed
I've used Versed 1000+ times during oral surgery procedures and I've never had a complaint. It's a miracle drug because it is safe and it causes you to not remember an unpleasant experience. My answer to him is isn't it better to have not experienced the pain than to have forgot it. No wonder you have had no complaints they have no memory of the procedure.....

I feel that giving a drug for amnesia is cruel I would not want it done to me!

A strange development in medical thinking that it's okay for a patient to have
pain as long as they don't remember it and think they slept thru the procedure..


Here is a link for some info

http://www.freehelpforcancer.com/manages-meds/sedation