Laparoscopic liver biopsy using cup-shaped punch biopsy forceps and argon beam coagulator in children

Needle liver biopsy is insufficient for measuring enzyme activity in liver tissue in child cases of intrahepatic cholestasis because the biopsy specimen obtained is too small. This study was undertaken to validate the feasibility of a new, relatively non-invasive laparoscopic liver biopsy technique combining the use of laparoscopic cup-shaped punch biopsy forceps (CPBF) and an argon beam coagulator (ABC) handpiece for the diagnosis and examination of liver enzyme activity in cases of intrahepatic cholestasis in children. The authors performed laparoscopic liver biopsy with the combined use of laparoscopic CPBF and an ABC handpiece in 10 children aged 4 months to 9 years old. Two 5-mm trocars were inserted in each patient after their abdomens had been filled with carbon dioxide gas at a pressure of 8 mmHg. Four to five specimens (each: 0.5 cm(3) in size) were taken at the anterior edge of the left lobe of the liver using laparoscopic CPBF. ABC was sprayed on to the cut liver surface to achieve hemostasis. The duration of the laparoscopic procedure ranged from 25 to 64 (44 +/- 12.8) min. The maximum intraoperative hemorrhage from the biopsied liver bed was 30 ml. The bleeding was easily controlled using ABC for about 1 min. There were no cases of postoperative bleeding, bile leakage from the cut surface, nor intraabdominal infection. There were also no death cases, and only one complication (hydrocele testis) was recorded. Examination by microscopy and assays of enzyme activities were performed using these biopsy specimens, which were sufficient for diagnosis in all patients. Laparoscopic liver biopsy combining the use of laparoscopic CPBF and an ABC handpiece can be performed safely, is less invasive, and provides sufficient samples for examination both by microscopy and enzyme activity assays.