Open AccessSignificant clinical risks and the benefits of liver biopsies in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Thailand: Lessons learned from the past to the present
Author(s) -
Arthit Wongsaensook,
Wattana Sukeepaisarnjaroen,
Wisut Sukeepaisarnjaroen,
Churairat Kularbkaew
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
interventional medicine and applied science/interventional medicine and applied science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.195
H-Index - 14
eISSN - 2061-5094
pISSN - 2061-1617
DOI - 10.1556/imas.4.2012.2.6
Subject(s) - medicine , liver biopsy , biopsy , liver function , liver function tests , complication , chronic hepatitis , gastroenterology , surgery , general surgery , virus , virology
Aim: To evaluate risks and benefits of percutaneous liver biopsies in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who had performed liver biopsies between January 2005 and September 2009 from the data of the Srinagarind Memorial Building, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. Results: A total of 1038 liver biopsies were reviewed. The 927 liver biopsies performed were blind (89.3%), 110 were ultrasound guided (10.6%) and one was both (0.1%). 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. Conclusion: 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.