Liver Biopsy

The following things can happen on the day of the procedure. The patient will be:

1. Instructed not to drink or eat anything for four to six hours before the procedure.
2. Briefed by the doctor regarding the liver biopsy procedure and its complications.
3. Asked to share their queries.
4. Made to wear a hospital gown.
5. Informed to bring along a family member to take them home.
6. Asked for a pre-biopsy blood test before starting the actual biopsy procedure.

The patient will be instructed to lie on their back. The doctor will use an ultrasound to mark the location of the liver. Further steps proceed as:

If a Percutaneous Liver Biopsy procedure is used:

1. The doctor will begin by cleaning and numbing the area with a local anaesthetic.  
2. The doctor will make a tiny cut on the upper abdomen and insert the needle through the cut to collect a small liver tissue sample.

If a Transvenous Liver Biopsy procedure is used:

1. After the patient is told to lie on their back, the doctor will numb the side of the neck with local anaesthesia and make a small cut on the side of the neck.
2. The doctor will then insert a cannula from the neck region to the liver and collect the tissue sample with the help of a needle.

After Liver Biopsy, the patient will:

1. Be kept in the recovery room for about four hours for observation.
2. Told not to drive or operate machinery for at least twelve hours after the biopsy.
3. Told that they may feel a little pain and discomfort in their right shoulder, upper abdomen, or back.
4. Be given pain-relieving medicines.
5. Be told not to do strenuous activity for at least 24 hours after the procedure.
6. Told not to take aspirin, medicines containing aspirin, or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as indomethacin, ibuprofen, or naproxen for three to five days after the biopsy.

Though Liver Biopsy is a safe procedure, sometimes there are a few possible risks and complications involved while performing a liver biopsy:

1. Pain at the biopsy site
2. Bleeding from the biopsy site 
3. Bleeding inside the abdomen around the liver
4. Infection at the biopsy site
5. Injuries to organs such as lung, gallbladder, or small intestine during the surgery
6. Infection leading to sepsis (body’s extreme response to an infection)
7. Haemothorax (blood accumulation in the space between the chest wall and the lung)
8. Pneumothorax (a collapsed lung)
9. Temporary voice issue
10. Temporary facial nerves issue
11. Haematoma in the neck

The patient must contact their doctor if they notice any of the following:

1. Chills
2. Fever
3. Dizziness
4. Difficulty breathing
5. Severe pain or tenderness at the biopsy site or in the shoulder, chest, or abdomen within 72 hours after the biopsy.