Acute pneumonia and pneumothorax as a complication of transbronchial biopsy.

This report describes the development of an acute pneumonia and a pneumothorax after transbronchial biopsy with a fiberoptic bronchoscope. The patient was elderly and had a chronic bronchopneumonia. The literature is reviewed and it is concluded that elderly patients with chronic pyogenic pulmonary infections may represent a high risk category for this investigation.