fine needle biobsy

[ANGIE1965]

can you be put completely under for a fine needle biopsy? my mom is schedules and is terrifed but i think everything i have read says only local anestesia

[lera856]

I had a needle biopsy 2 weeks ago and I felt no pain. It took me a couple of days to get over it,nausa, tired feeling,etc., but nothing bad.I am 65 yrs old and out of shape, so that may be it.
I am having another tomorrow,so I know what to expect. I know they gave me something to relax me..

[HeinrikMD]

Hi,

The procedure is usually done with a needle puncture to deliver the anesthetic. She probably has had some experience with getting a needle in for intravenous fluids or medicines, so the pain is similar to that. The experience though would be harder compared to getting your arm pricked due to the anxiety attached due to the fear of hitting a vital organ, so mental preparation is important.  

[ANGIE1965]

how painful is it?

[HeinrikMD]

Hi,

While we would like to avoid pain as much as possible, there are some advantages to performing the biopsy under local anesthesia only.

The puncture on the chest wall/upper back raises a risk for pneumothorax. This means that air outside the body, may enter through the puncture and (since this occupies space inside the barriers of the rib cage) compresses the lung, makes breathing difficult.  The chances of this complication occurring is small, but it would be higher if the breathing is labored and deep. An alert patient would be better able to regulate breathing (can hold breaths upon command or take shallower breaths) than a sedated patient.