[Surgical lung biopsy].

Open lung biopsy enables a diagnosis to be made in cases of diffuse infiltrative pulmonary disease. It was developed to aid the diagnosis of opportunistic infectious disease observed in virus infections in immune deficiency states and during transplants. Open lung biopsy involves the partial resection of the lung parenchyma. The availability of the mechanical stapler has resolved the problem of parenchymal air leaks when suturing lung tissue. Open lung biopsy should be carried out when endoscopic techniques have failed to achieve a diagnosis, including bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsy. The place of open biopsy continues to develop. It is becoming less important when other techniques have become available for certain diagnoses such as Pneumocystis carinii, histiocytosis X, alveolar proteinosis and the rejection of lung transplants.... It should be carried out early when a particular diagnosis might change the management of a patient.