Pneumothorax clinical trials at UCSF

Pneumothorax is the most common complication after CT-guided lung biopsy, and several techniques have been proposed to reduce the risk. Among them, rapid rollover is the maneuver to immediately reposition the patient, with biopsy-side down after removal of biopsy needle. It has been theorized that the technique reduces the size of alveoli surrounding the needle tract, leading to airway closure and reduction in the alveolar-to-pleural pressure gradient, thereby preventing pneumothorax. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of rapid rollover in reducing the risk of radiographically detectable pneumothorax and the rate of chest tube insertion. Patients undergoing CT-guided lung biopsy for any indication will be recruited and randomized into either rapid rollover group or control group. In the control group, CT guided lung biopsy will be performed per standard protocols; in the rapid rollover group, the biopsy will also be performed per the same protocol with the addition of rapid rollover at the end of the procedure. For both groups, the primary outcome would be new or enlarging pneumothorax detected on post-biopsy radiographs, and the secondary outcome would be the risk of pneumothorax necessitating chest tube insertion, all complications associated with CT guided lung biopsy, time to complication development, and patient experience in each arm.