In life-threatening emergencies, find the emergency room location nearest you. For non-life-threatening medical needs when your pediatrician is unavailable, visit one of our urgent care locations.
We use cookies to provide you with the best online experience. If you continue browsing, it means that you accept and agree to our Terms of Use & Privacy Policy
Sometimes, to make an accurate diagnosis, doctors need to remove a tiny piece of lung tissue and study it under a microscope. A lung biopsy is a surgical procedure performed under anesthesia to minimize discomfort.
Why Choose Children's Hospital Colorado?
Children's Colorado is an experienced world leader for lung biopsies in infants, children and adolescents. Our talented surgeons do the least invasive video assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) procedure with excellent outcomes. All patients will require a hospital admission, but many patients can be discharged in less than 48 hours after the operation. Pain is also minimized by avoiding the use of a chest tube after the procedure.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
The decision to have your child undergo a lung biopsy is one that requires a review with your pediatric pulmonologists of the risk and benefits. A few questions that might be helpful to understand before making your decision could include the following. Making sure that the location you choose to have the lung biopsy done is the best place for your child is critically important.
Has a complete evaluation been completed to rule out other underlying diagnoses that could be excluded by other testing before a lung biopsy should be completed?
Would the lung biopsy be completed using a video assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) or open lung procedure? If the procedure will be completed using an open lung procedure-what is the rationale for this approach and why isn’t a VATS being considered?
How many lung biopsies has the institution or surgeon completed in children the age of your child?
Does the pathologist and institution understand the recommended processing procedures and evaluation for the lung biopsy tissue?
What is the anticipated hospital stay for your child? And what has been the hospital stay for others undergoing a lung biopsy?
What is the information the physician is trying to obtain from doing lung biopsy? And how likely is it to be found?
Contact us
Pediatric Heart Lung Center Phone: 720-777-5821
Breathing Institute Phone: 720-777-6181
Asthma Clinic Phone: 720-777-6181
Aerodigestive Program Phone: 720-777-6181
Interstitial Lung Disease (chILD) Program Phone: 720-777-6181
Mike McMorris Cystic Fibrosis Research and Care Center Phone: 720-777-6181
Sleep Center Phone: 720-777-6181
Ventilator Care Program Phone: 720-777-6181
Patient ratings and reviews are not available
Children's Hospital Colorado partners with NRC Health to gather star ratings and reviews from patients, residents and family survey data.
This provider either practices in a department or specialty that we currently do not survey, or does not have at least 10 ratings in the last 12 months. Learn more about patient ratings and reviews.
Provider affiliation
Children's Hospital Colorado providers
Children’s Hospital Colorado providers are faculty members of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Our specialists are nationally ranked and globally recognized for delivering the best possible care in pediatrics.
Community providers
Some healthcare professionals listed on our website have medical privileges to practice at Children’s Hospital Colorado, but they are community providers. They schedule and bill separately for their services, and are not employees of the Hospital.