The removal of tissue from the pleural space is known as?

RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-1)

Medical & Surgical Nursing

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Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

A pleural biopsy is a procedure to obtain a sample of the pleura, the two-layered membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the inside of the chest cavity.
The term 'pleural' in the procedure name directly corresponds to the 'pleural space' mentioned in the question, which is the potential space between the two layers of the pleura.
This procedure is essential for the histopathological diagnosis of conditions affecting the pleura, such as infection (like tuberculosis) or cancer (like mesothelioma).

Option A: A liver biopsy involves removing tissue from the liver, an organ located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, not the pleural space in the chest.
Option C: A lung biopsy involves taking tissue from the lung parenchyma (the functional tissue of the lung) itself, not from the pleural lining that surrounds the lung.
Option D: A spleen biopsy involves removing tissue from the spleen, an organ located in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen. It is not related to the pleural space.

Visual 1: Diagram: An illustration of the thoracic cavity showing the lungs, the visceral pleura (covering the lungs), the parietal pleura (lining the chest wall), and the pleural space between them. This helps visualize the target area of the biopsy.
Visual 2: Illustration: A depiction of a needle pleural biopsy, showing a needle inserted through the chest wall into the pleural space to obtain a tissue sample from the parietal pleura.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Medical Terminology for Biopsy Procedures as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nursing care for a patient undergoing a pleural biopsy includes obtaining informed consent, positioning the patient correctly (usually sitting upright and leaning forward), and providing support during the procedure.
Post-procedure, the nurse must monitor the patient's vital signs, respiratory status (rate, effort, breath sounds), and the biopsy site for bleeding or signs of infection. A primary concern is monitoring for pneumothorax (collapsed lung).
What if the question asked about removing fluid from the pleural space? The correct answer would be thoracentesis, a procedure to drain fluid for either diagnostic analysis or therapeutic relief of symptoms like shortness of breath.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key anatomical location mentioned in the question stem, which is the 'pleural space'.
Next, examine the options provided. Each option describes a biopsy, which is a removal of tissue, from a specific organ or location.
Systematically match the location from the question ('pleural') with the locations in the options.
The term 'Pleural biopsy' directly corresponds to the 'pleural space'.
Eliminate the other options because they refer to different organs (Liver, Lung, Spleen) that are anatomically distinct from the pleural space.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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