Raja pleural biopsy needle. A comparison with the Abrams needle in experimental pleural effusion

The Raja pleural biopsy needle, 3 mm in external diameter and fitted with a titanium alloy biopsy flap, was compared with the Abrams needle in six dogs with experimentally induced pleural effusion. One hundred twenty-four pleural biopsies were performed using either the Raja needle or the Abrams needle (62 with each needle). No complication occurred with either needle. The Raja pleural biopsy needle yielded a statistically significant larger pleural tissue specimen with a statistically significant lower frequency of crush artifacts. The size of the pleura obtained by the Abrams needle averaged 4,401 ± 559 μm² (mean ± SE) compared with 8,652 ± 1,099 μm² with the Raja needle (p < 0.01; Student two-tailed t test). Biopsies by the Abrams needle showed crush artifacts in 25.8% of the specimens, whereas 8.06% of biopsies with the Raja needle showed crush artifacts (p < 0.02; Fisher's two-tailed exact test). In conclusion, the Raja pleural biopsy needle is safe to use and, despite its smaller diameter (3 mm versus 4 mm external diameter of the Abrams needle), yields significantly larger and less frequently distorted pleural specimens.