The pleura is the membrane lining the chest cavity and covering the lungs. In an open pleural biopsy, a sample of the pleura is taken through an incision made in the chest wall. It is then examined for abnormalities in the laboratory.

This procedure is done in the hospital using general anesthesia (the patient is unconscious and pain-free). During the procedure, you are given a mixture of anesthetic gas and oxygen through a tube that is inserted through your mouth and into the trachea.

An incision is made in the chest on the left or right side. A sample is taken from the pleura (lung membrane) under direct observation. After the sample is obtained, a chest tube is placed and the incision is stitched closed.

You will be asked not to eat or drink for 8 hours before the test. You must sign a consent form.

You will be asleep during the procedure. There will be some tenderness and pain at the site of the incision afterwards. You may have a sore throat after the test due to the breathing tube.

This procedure is used when a larger sample is needed than can be obtained by a pleural needle biopsy. The procedure is done when no body fluids are in the pleura or when a direct view of the pleura and the lungs is necessary.

The pleura will be normal.

Abnormal findings can indicate tuberculosis or neoplasms (abnormal growths). Viral, fungal, or parasitic diseases may also be detected.

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed include metastatic pleural tumor.

There is a slight chance of excessive loss of blood, an air leak, or injury to the lung.