Bleeding complications post ultrasound guided renal biopsy - A single centre experience from Pakistan

Renal biopsy is the diagnostic modality of choice for the diagnosis of renal parenchymal diseases. The advent of improved imaging techniques and biopsy needles over the years has increased the safety of the procedure and the ability to obtain adequate renal tissue for diagnosis. However, there is paucity of data in this regard from Pakistan. This study shall help in establishing the local perspective of the frequency of bleeding complications in percutaneous ultrasound guided renal biopsy.

This is a prospective case series of hospitalized patients from January till December 2015 at Nephrology Department, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. After enrolment, each participant was followed for 24 h after renal biopsy.

A total of 220 patients were included. Mean age was 41.65 ± 8.627 years, 82 (37.2%) were male and 138 (62.8%) were female. Pre and post biopsy haemoglobin, pre and post biopsy haematocrit were 10.92 ± 1.25 and 10.60 ± 1.22, and 30.82 ± 4.73 and 30.49 ± 4.68 respectively. Out of 220 patients, 16 (7.27%) developed major complications and 26 (11.8%) developed minor complications in 24 h after renal biopsy.

Percutaneous kidney biopsy is a relatively safe procedure. Complication rates following the procedure are minimal. It is important that all nephrology programs train the trainees in performing biopsies, so that there is a wider clinical use of this important investigation even in underprivileged & developing countries.