[Kidney biopsy from the viewpoint of a clinician]

Technique, indications, contraindications and complications of percutaneous biopsy of the kidney and the renal transplant are reviewed. In Basle, after introducing fluoroscopic control, 347 consecutive percutaneous biopsies were followed by two serious complications only: persistent bleeding led to partial nephrectomy of the lower pole in one case and nephrectomy in a second case where spontaneous hemorrhage had occurred at the upper pole (temporally but not causally related to the biopsy of the lower pole). A further 110 biopsies of renal transplants done also with fluoroscopic control resulted in no complication whatsoever.