[Liver aspiration biopsy with a disposable instrument: Hepafix (author's transl)]

Liver aspiration biopsies performed with a new disposable instrument (Hepafix) were compared with biopsies performed with the conventional Menghini's needle in 74 patients. The diameter of the needle was the same in both groups, being either 1,4 or 1,6 mm depending upon the case. Twenty-seven of the 39 patients (69,2%) biopsied with the new instrument experienced no pain during puncture, as opposed to only 9 of the 35 patients (25,7%) biopsied with the standard needle. In non-cirrhotic patients, tissue fragments were longer with Hepafix (mean, 40 mm) than with Menghini's needle (mean, 25 mm). The authors' preference goes to Hepafix because it is less painful, responsibly cheap and carries no risk of viral contamination.