Liver biopsy: how to do in the hospital

In medical practice, visual methods of research( ultrasound, x-ray) have been significantly improved in recent years. 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 deal with it.

What is liver biopsy

This is a special medical study that allows to detect various abnormalities in the body at the cellular level.

We will outline 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.

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

Why is the

procedure prescribed? Among the patients, it is widely believed that a 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: The

• blood test gives reason to suspect liver disease;
• conducted studies( ultrasound, x-ray, MRI, CT) indicated a problem with the organ;
• establish the degree of liver damage;
• 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 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;
• of Wilson-Konovalov's disease.

Preparation for

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.

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 a biopsy, the patient is being revoked with medications, additives that can lead to bleeding:

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

In addition to taking medication, it is important to inform your doctor about your health. Special attention should be paid to the following points:

• confirmed or possible pregnancy;
• allergic reactions to medications or latex;
• recently suffered pneumonia;
• is characteristic of ascites;
• of the circulatory system.

Before

procedure After explaining how a liver biopsy is done( the photo in the article allows you to get acquainted with the procedure), the doctor will prescribe to the patient a test:

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

When all 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 the procedure, the patient can not be immediately raised.

Liver biopsy

How do the procedure?

Manipulation consists of such stages:

1. Before the procedure, a sedative medicine is intravenously administered.
2. 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. Doctor using a manual examination, or using an ultrasound machine, will find a liver. A special needle, intended 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 exhale 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 at a different angle.
6. The procedure lasts about 15-30 minutes.

If there is a suspicion of cancer or cirrhosis, liver biopsy may 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 types of this manipulation. And only the doctor can tell you how to make a liver biopsy.

The patient may 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 tissue sample is taken through the tube. The catheter is carefully removed. A bandage is applied to the neck.
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 are introduced special tools, 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 is done. The rehabilitation period depends entirely on the type of manipulation.

Typically, the patient is recommended:

1. After a biopsy, the patient is transported to the ward. The nurse controls the patient's pulse, pressure, and respiration.
2. A person is not allowed to get out of bed for 2-4 hours if a percutaneous biopsy is performed. With other varieties of the procedure, this time increases.
3. A patient who has been given sedatives should not drive. It is better to ask relatives to take you home from the clinic.
4. Do not lift weights within 24 hours.
5. Painful sensations in the puncture site can persist for a week.
6. You can return to normal activity after 1-2 days.

Possible complications of

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

However, the following effects can sometimes 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. Bacteria can penetrate through the incision or puncture into the abdominal cavity.
4. Accidental damage to nearby organs. This is extremely rare. The needle can injure adjacent organs( lung, gall bladder).

Opinion of patients

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

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 never encounter.

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