Modified open renal biopsy. An experience with fifty consecutive cases

Fifty consecutive patients underwent a modified open renal biopsy using bronchial forceps under general anesthesia. A small incision (2-3 cm) was made, and several small pieces of renal tissue (5-7) were excised in each case. Adequate tissue for diagnosis was obtained in 100% of the biopsies. Morbidity was minimal, and no deaths occurred as a result of biopsy. Traditionally, the open renal biopsy consists of a large incision (7-10 cm) with a deep wedge excision. It is significant that the modified technique provided a high tissue yield (the average number of glomeruli was 80) with few complications. This tissue yield was significantly higher than that usually seen with percutaneous needle biopsy.