What is a Liver Biopsy?
A liver biopsy is a procedure where a specifically skilled doctor (generally a hepatologist, radiologist, or gastroenterologist) utilizes an unique needle to get a little sample of your liver tissue to examine under a microscope. This liver tissue allows the doctor to see if your liver is healthy or to much better understand what the reasons are if you have liver damage or disease. The biopsy tissue will likewise help your professional determine the intensity of liver disease (or stage).
Utilizing the results from the liver biopsy, your doctor will assess:
- The degree of liver inflammation or damage (grade).
- The degree of scar tissue or fibrosis (stage).
- Existence and degree of fatty liver or other metabolic liver conditions.
- The cause of unusual liver tests if not already known.
- Sometimes, a guided biopsy is carried out of a liver mass or “spot” to see if you have cancer.
How is a Liver Biopsy Performed?
There are two primary methods to perform a liver biopsy. Your doctor will talk about with you which sort of biopsy is best for you.
The most typical method makes use of an unique needle to remove the tissue through an extremely small laceration in the skin along the right chest wall.
Less frequently, the doctor carries out a liver biopsy through a vein in your neck (transjugular approach) or might place the biopsy needle in another place in the abdomen to reach the liver (medical approach).
Severe Abdominal Pain after Liver Biopsy: Is it Normal?
- Pain: 1 in 4 people have severe or sharp pain right after the procedure and it might last 5 to 20 minutes.
- Pain: 1 in 100 has pain for 1-7 days after the procedure.
- Pain: 1 in 1000 have long term liver or right upper abdominal pain after the procedure.
- Bleeding: essential bleeding that needs hospitalization and possibly blood transfusion is less than 1: 1,000 to 3,000 patients.
- Bile leak: can happen, risk level not understood.
- Perforation of other organs such as colon, kidney or lung: since our biopsies are ultrasound directed the risk is far less than 1:1000.
- Heart or lung issues from anesthesia: less than 1:3,000 risk.
- Allergy to lidocaine: less than 1:3,000.
- Shock, surgery, interventional radiology to treat or stop bleeding or managing bile leak or organ perforation: less than 1:6,000.
- Death: less than 1:12,000.
How to prepare yourself for Liver Biopsy?
Do not eat anything for 6 hours or consume anything for 3 hours before your biopsy. (You may only consume clear liquids such as apple juice, Gatorade ®, ginger ale, or water for up to 3 hours prior to your procedure.).
- Your doctor may offer you additional guidelines for this procedure. Please read them thoroughly.
Medication Note: Ask your doctor if when you should stop taking your typical medications, consisting of vitamins, over-the-counter medications, and herbal supplements. - It is essential to inform your doctor if you are taking any blood-thinning medications, such as Aspirin, Coumadin ® (warfarin), Lovenox ® (enoxaparin) or Plavix ® (clopidogrel). Your doctor may inform you to stop taking these medications one week before your biopsy.
If you are taking any pain medications, such as Motrin ®/Advil ®(ibuprofen), your doctor might inform you to stop taking these medications one week prior to your biopsy.
If you are diabetic, do not take your diabetes medications on the day of your procedure since you will not be eating (fasting).
On the Day of the Procedure
Please show up 2 hours prior to your set up procedure.
Pertain to the healthcare facility with a member of the family or assistance individual who can drive you home. You might not drive or take a taxi home alone after this procedure.
Bring your insurance details and a list (or the bottles) of medications you are taking, consisting of vitamins, over the counter medications, and organic supplements.
The doctor might do an ultrasound or CT scan prior to or during the procedure to find the best place to do the biopsy. This might be done by an ultrasound technologist in the radiology (X-ray) department or by your doctor right before the procedure. If it is carried out in radiology, the service technician will provide you a report with directions for your doctor. Take this with you to the GI Lab for your procedure.
Signing the approval form: The doctor discusses the procedure to you and asks you to sign an authorization type mentioning that you comprehend the procedure. This is a good time to ask concerns and share any issues you may have.
You may request to be offered oral or intravenous sedatives instantly before your procedure after meeting with the doctor. Please notify the scheduling staff and the nursing personnel if you would like to be offered the sedatives to allow for sufficient planning.
Strategy to remain for a minimum of 2 hours and as much as 4 hours after your biopsy.
During the Procedure
The Registered Nurse (RN) puts an intravenous line (IV) in your arm. The IV allows the doctor/RN to give you medications for your convenience or to take any blood tests if needed.
You are positioned on displays that determine your blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen level.
The doctor will ask you to lie flat with your right arm above your head. Then your doctor might do an ultrasound to find the best location for the biopsy. The doctor cleans up the area for the biopsy and injects an anesthetic around the insertion site. He/she will instruct you on breathing during the biopsy and when to hold your breath.
After Your Procedure
After the biopsy, you will have your blood pressure, pulse and oxygen levels inspected frequently. Your nurse will examine the biopsy insertion website for any signs of bleeding.
You will be allowed to drink fluids if your condition is steady. However, some patients might be asked not to eat or drink for 2 hours after the procedure.
Your blood may be drawn after the procedure to make sure everything is typical and it is safe for you to go home.
The biopsy insertion site will be covered by a Band-Aid ® (adhesive tape).
The plaster can be gotten rid of after 48 hours at your home by you or your household.
You will get comprehensive directions about the best ways to care for yourself in home from your doctor and the nursing staff.
Note: Do not take any Aspirin or pain medication (particularly, any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or naproxen) unless otherwise informed by your doctor.
When you are ready to go home, your nurse will examine a copy of your home care instructions with you. These guidelines will have any changes in medications and a phone number to contact your doctor.
Call your doctor or go to the closest emergency room if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Increased pain in the stomach, shoulder, or chest.
- Bleeding from the biopsy site.
- Weak point, lightheadedness, or lightheadedness.
- Shortness of breath.
- Fever or shaking chills.
- Vomiting blood or passing blood in your stools.
- If you have a new symptom or problem and you can not reach your professional, go to the nearest ER to be examined.
When Will I Get the Results of My Liver Biopsy?
The outcomes of your biopsy are generally readily available to your doctor within 5 days. Your doctor might ask you to return to the clinic to examine the lead to person or they may request you to call the workplace to evaluate over the phone. Please ask your doctor for the strategy to get your results.
Regularly Asked Questions
Question: What is a liver biopsy?
Answer: A liver biopsy is a procedure where a specifically qualified doctor uses an unique needle to get a sample of your liver tissue to examine under a microscopic lense.
Question: Is a liver biopsy procedure painful?
Answer: During the liver biopsy procedure, the doctor injects a local anesthetic around the insertion website in your abdominal area or neck for your comfort. There is some mild pain connected with this injection. You will be offered additional medication in your IV to make sure that you are comfortable if you request this additional sedation. Roughly 20 % of the time, abdominal or right chest pain will be experienced. This pain typically resolves in 2 hours or less. Periodically, pain medications might be needed for approximately 1 week after this procedure. It is very uncommon that any pain will exist long-lasting after a liver biopsy. Hardly ever, severe abdominal pain after liver biopsy is experienced which will need a healthcare facility stay for infusion of pain medications.
Question: What are the threats of a liver biopsy?
Answer: The most common event is severe pain, as described above. Rarely, less than 1 in 2,000 individuals have bleeding after the liver biopsy that requires treatment with blood transfusion or surgery. The risk of organ perforation is very low and we describe the risk of death after this procedure as less than 1 in 13,000 people or patients. Bile leakages have also been explained after liver biopsy however are so rare that a rate price quote is not possible.
Question: When will I get the results of my liver biopsy?
Answer: The outcomes of your biopsy are typically readily available to your doctor within 5 days. Your doctor may ask you to return to the center to evaluate the lead to person or they might request you to call the workplace to examine over the phone. Please ask your doctor for the plan to obtain your results.
