Percutaneous renal biopsy in a developing country: experience with 300 cases

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nephrology
• Interventional Radiology
• Global Health

Background:

• Percutaneous renal biopsy is a crucial diagnostic tool for pediatric kidney diseases.
• Implementing advanced medical procedures in developing countries presents unique challenges.
• Establishing safe and effective biopsy protocols is essential for improving pediatric healthcare in resource-limited settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and safety of percutaneous renal biopsy in children within a developing country context.
• To compare the outcomes of percutaneous renal biopsy in a developing country with international benchmarks.
• To provide practical guidelines for performing percutaneous renal biopsy in resource-constrained environments.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 300 percutaneous renal biopsies performed on 253 pediatric patients.
• Assessment of procedural success rates, defined by obtaining adequate renal tissue.
• Documentation and analysis of all complications, including the need for blood transfusions.

Main Results:

• Adequate renal tissue for diagnosis was obtained in 94% of the procedures.
• A total of 26 complications (8.7%) were recorded, with 7 children requiring blood transfusion.
• The complication rate and success rate are comparable to those reported in developed countries.

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous renal biopsy is a feasible and safe procedure for pediatric patients in developing countries.
• The findings support the establishment of percutaneous renal biopsy services in hospitals within developing nations.
• The study offers practical guidelines to facilitate the implementation and standardization of this procedure in resource-limited settings.