Letter: complications of percutaneous liver biopsy with Klatskin needles-methodological issues

role of percutaneous liver biopsy

A comparative trial of liver biopsy needles.

A sheathed needle (Tru-Cut) was compared with a suction biopsy needle (Menghini) in a randomised prospective trial over 18 months to determine whether the former offered any special advantages in routine percutaneous liver biopsy. Seventy-seven consecutive biopsies were performed by a single operator. Although biopsy fragmentation was commoner with the suction needle, the length and volume of t...

Complications of Liver Biopsy

Role of Percutaneous Liver Biopsy

We read the interesting study by Szymczak et al. (1) regarding the safety and effectiveness of a blind per-cutaneous liver biopsy, where they concluded that the failure rate and the risk of complications are low if indications and contraindications are carefully considered. Moreover, these authors emphasize how important it is that biopsies are performed by skilled and experienced operators. Th...

Timing of complications in percutaneous renal biopsy.

Percutaneous renal biopsy (PRB) is a safe and effective tool in the diagnosis and management of renal disease; however, the optimal timing of observation after biopsy is not clearly established. With the use of real-time ultrasound guidance, PRB of native kidneys was performed in 750 adult patients at an academic institution by an attending nephrologist or fellow between June 1983 and June 2002...