Liver biopsy: how to do in the hospital

In medical practice in recent years, visual methods of research (ultrasound, x-ray) have been significantly improved. But sometimes they are not enough to correctly diagnose. In some pathologies, a tissue sample is required. To avoid surgery to get the cells, a liver biopsy is used . How is this procedure done? What is it appointed for? And how is the research going on?

Let's understand.

What is a liver biopsy?

This is a special medical study, which allows to identify various abnormalities in the body at the cellular level.

We will analyze in general terms if a liver biopsy is administered, as this procedure is done. Using a special needle, take a small piece of tissue, which is sent to a laboratory study. The procedure is considered quite difficult manipulation.

Often the question arises as to whether it is painful to do a liver biopsy. The study hardly brings any discomfort to the patient, since it is performed under anesthesia.

What is the procedure for?

Among patients, it is widely believed that liver biopsy is prescribed only if the doctor suspects an oncological disease. But this is by no means the only reason why research can be assigned.

The procedure is recommended in the following cases:

• A blood test gives reason to suspect liver disease;
• Conducted studies (ultrasound, X-ray, MRI, CT) indicated a problem with the organ;
• Determine the extent of liver damage;
• The patient needs to plan the right treatment;
• After the prescribed therapy should determine the dynamics.

Remember, if you have a liver biopsy, how to do the procedure and for what, the doctor will explain to you in detail.

The study is prescribed for a variety of pathologies, including:

• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease;
• Chronic hepatitis B or C;
• Alcoholic liver disease ;
• Primary biliary cirrhosis;
• Autoimmune hepatitis ;
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis ;
• Wilson-Konovalov's disease.

Preparation for the procedure

A patient who has a liver biopsy, how to do the procedure, will be explained in detail by the doctor. He will explain in detail what to expect from this survey.

The patient should tell the doctor about all the medications that he takes. This applies not only to prescription drugs, but also vitamins, plant supplements.

On the eve of the biopsy, the patient is revoked with medications, supplements that can lead to bleeding:

1. Anesthetics such as "Aspirin", "Ibuprofen".
2. Preparations that dilute blood, for example, "Warfarin".
3. Certain food supplements that reduce the risk of sudden bleeding.

In addition to taking medications, it is important to inform your doctor about your health. Pay special attention to the following points:

• Confirmed or possible pregnancy;
• Allergic reactions to medications or latex;
• Recently suffered pneumonia;
• Whether ascites is peculiar to you;
• Diseases of the circulatory system.

Before the procedure

Having explained how a liver biopsy is done (the photo in the article allows you to get acquainted with the procedure), the doctor will give the patient an examination:

1. Blood test. It is recommended to the patient to determine the level of blood clotting. If the examination reveals a problem, immediately before the procedure the doctor will give the patient a medicine that reduces the risk of bleeding.
2. Ultrasound. The study allows you to study the anatomical features of the structure of the organ.

When all the tests are done, the doctor will schedule the day of the biopsy. 10 hours before the procedure, you must stop eating. 8 to 6 hours before the manipulation should abandon the fluid. Immediately before biopsy, the patient is advised to empty the bladder. After all, after the procedure, the patient can not be immediately raised.

Liver biopsy

How do the procedure?

Manipulation consists of the following stages:

1. Before the procedure, a sedative medicine is administered intravenously.
2. The patient will be asked to undress. He lies on his back and puts his right hand under his head.
3. The area of the skin through which the puncture will be performed is disinfected. In this area, local anesthesia is introduced.
4. The doctor with the help of manual examination or, using an ultrasound machine, will find a liver. A special needle, designed for puncture biopsy, is inserted through the skin between the two right lower ribs. To facilitate the passage of the needle, the patient may be asked to breathe out and hold his breath for a while. Such an event will protect against an accidental puncture lung.
5. If necessary, the doctor will perform another puncture, but from a different angle.
6. The procedure lasts about 15-30 minutes.

If there is a suspicion of oncology or cirrhosis, liver biopsy can be performed in a slightly different way. How is this manipulation done in cancer? Biopsy is sometimes performed with laparoscopy.

Types of procedure

There are several varieties of this manipulation. And only a doctor can tell you how to make a liver biopsy.

A patient can be recommended one of the following methods:

1. Percutaneous biopsy. This is the most common method. This method was considered above.
2. Transjugular biopsy. The patient lies on his back, on the X-ray table. The doctor injects an anesthetic into the neck. Then a small incision is made and a flexible plastic tube is inserted into the jugular vein . It is carefully screwed into the vessel. When the tube reaches the hepatic vein, a contrast medium is injected into it and a number of pictures are taken. Then a sample of tissue is taken through the tube. The catheter is carefully removed. On the neck a bandage is applied.
3. Laparoscopic biopsy. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. The patient does not feel anything. The patient is placed on the operating table. The doctor makes a few or one small incision in the abdomen. Through the incisions special tools are introduced, as well as a small video camera, which designs the image of the organ on the monitor. The doctor sees the organ in detail. This allows you to take all the necessary tissue samples. After removing the toolkit, the cuts are sewn.

After the procedure

Now you know if a liver biopsy is prescribed, as the procedure does. The rehabilitation period depends entirely on the type of manipulation.

As a rule, the patient is recommended:

1. After a biopsy, the patient is transported to the ward. The nurse controls the pulse, pressure and breathing of the patient.
2. A person is not allowed to get out of bed for 2-4 hours if a percutaneous biopsy is performed. With other types of procedure, this time increases.
3. The patient, who was injected with sedatives, should not sit behind the wheel. It is better to ask relatives to take you home from the clinic.
4. During the day you should not lift weights.
5. Painful sensations in the puncture site can persist for a week.
6. You can return to normal activities after 1-2 days.

Possible complications

If the biopsy is performed by an experienced physician, then this is an absolutely safe procedure.

However, sometimes the following effects can be observed:

1. Pain. Discomfort after the procedure is the most common complication. Most often it's about small painful sensations. In the case of severe discomfort, the patient is prescribed analgesic therapy.
2. Bleeding. Some patients may experience this complication. If the bleeding is severe, the patient will need a blood transfusion or surgery.
3. Infection. Rarely a rare complication. Through the incision or puncture into the abdominal cavity bacteria can penetrate.
4. Accidental damage to nearby organs. This is very rare. The needle can injure adjacent organs (lung, gall bladder).

Patient's opinion

And now we will consider what patients think about such a procedure as, liver biopsy. How do they do it?

The patients' feedback shows that the event almost always causes fear in a person. However, the biopsy itself is quite easy. Some people experience small pain. But the discomfort is quite tolerable.

Patients who fully comply with all the prescriptions of the doctor, with complications almost do not face.

In specialized medical institutions, liver biopsy is a routine procedure. So you should not be afraid of it.