Percutaneous lung biopsy. Management of tracheobronchial haemorrhage.

A case is reported in which percutaneous lung biopsy was followed by haemorrhage into the tracheobronchial tree. Hypoxia followed, precipitating a cardiac arrest. The haemorrhage was isolated by the insertion of a double-lumen tube. Complications arising from this method of biopsy are reviewed and the measures necessary to control the potentially fatal problems are discussed.