Same day endoscopy and percutaneous liver biopsy: safety and cost-effectiveness

Routine upper and/or lower endoscopy and percutaneous liver biopsy in the same patient are rarely performed on the same day. The aim of this study was to determine the safety, cost savings, and patient satisfaction of these same day procedures. A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing same day endoscopy and percutaneous liver biopsy between February 2003 and July 2006 at Brooke Army Medical Center was performed. Eighty-nine patients were identified as having same day endoscopy and percutaneous liver biopsy during the study period. No study endpoint complications were identified. A cost savings of $333 per patient for a same day diagnostic upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, and percutaneous liver biopsy was found. More patients in both groups preferred same day procedures (P < 0.001). In conclusion, endoscopy and percutaneous liver biopsy can safely be performed in the same patient on the same day, which simultaneously increases patient satisfaction and is cost-effective.