Significant clinical risks and the benefits of liver biopsies in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Thailand Lessons learned from the past to the present
Wongsaensook, Arthit; Sukeepaisarnjaroen, Wattana; Sukeepaisarnjaroen, Wisut; Kularbkaew, Churairat
Interventional Medicine and Applied Science 4(2): 92-97
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 2061-1617
DOI: 10.1556/imas.4.2012.2.6
Accession: 036460534
To evaluate risks and benefits of percutaneous liver biopsies in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand. We retrospectively reviewed all patients who had performed liver biopsies between January 25 and September 29 from the data of the Srinagarind Memorial Building, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. A total of 138 liver biopsies were reviewed. The 927 liver biopsies performed were blind (89.3%), 11 were ultrasound guided (1.6%) and one was both (.1%). The essential biopsies were conducted in cases of chronic hepatitis B or C (68.9%), chronic hepatitis (22.9%) and liver mass (5%). The liver biopsies established definite diagnosis 99.5% of the time. The most common complication of liver biopsies was pain (4.8%). There were no reported cases of biopsy-related mortality. Liver biopsies performed by trained physicians are safe, rarely have complications, and are highly useful. The fibrotic staging and abnormal liver function tests are common indications. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is the common finding for chronic hepatitis.