Percutaneous liver biopsy practice patterns among Canadian hepatologists

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Gastroenterology
• Medical Practice Patterns

Background:

• Percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB) is a standard diagnostic tool for liver diseases.
• A decline in hepatologists performing PLBs has been observed, with reasons unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the attitudes, practice patterns, and barriers influencing hepatologists' performance of PLBs in Canada.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide survey was administered to all hepatologists in Canada.
• Data on practice habits, referral patterns, and reasons for performing or not performing PLBs were collected.

Main Results:

• 80% of surveyed hepatologists responded; 56% refer all PLBs to radiology, with only 19% performing them regularly.
• Nearly half (47%) reported a decrease in their PLB performance over five years.
• Lack of resources, patient preference, and reimbursement issues were primary barriers cited.

Conclusions:

• Canadian hepatologists are increasingly referring PLBs to radiology, diverging from past practices.
• The shift is driven by resource constraints, perceived safety improvements, and patient choice.
• FibroScan availability correlates with a 25-50% reduction in the perceived need for PLBs.