Background and Aim: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) includes a spectrum of lung disorders with varied causes, pathological changes, treatment strategies, and prognoses. Lung biopsy is often crucial for diagnosing ILD subtypes, especially in complex cases. However, biopsy procedures carry significant risk due to potential postoperative complications. This study aimed to assess the rate and types of postoperative complications in ILD patients following lung biopsy and to examine the relationship of these complications with patient demographics, lung function, and comorbidities.


Methods: We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional review of ILD patients who underwent surgical lung biopsy at XXX University Hospital from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2022. Data collected included demographics comorbidities, pulmonary function tests (FEV1, FVC), type of surgery (VATS or thoracotomy), biopsy location, hospital stay duration, and postoperative complications (pneumonia, prolonged air leak, hypoxia, pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema, pleural effusion, mortality). Statistical analyses identified factors associated with complication rates.


Results: Of the 140 patients analyzed, the mean age was 56.9 ± 11.1 years, with 50.7% female. Postoperative complications occurred in 22.1% of patients, with hypoxia, pneumonia, and prolonged air leak as the most frequent. Lower FEV1 was significantly associated with higher rates of complications (p=0.018), while hospital stays longer than five days were associated with increased complications (p<0.001). Gender, BMI, and comorbidities showed no significant associations with complication rates.


Conclusion: Our findings reveal a heightened risk of complications in ILD patients undergoing lung biopsy, particularly those with lower FEV1 and longer hospital stays. These results underscore the need for thorough preoperative evaluation, suggesting that VATS may be preferable over more invasive methods for ILD diagnosis.