Complications of percutaneous renal biopsy

Three hundred twenty renal biopsies were done in 305 patients over a period of 5 years. Adequate tissue for pathologic diagnosis was obtained in about 79% of biopsy attempts. The overall morbidity of procedure was 6.8%. Haematuria in 11.8% cases was the commonest complication. Haematuria resolved spontaneously in 63.8% of patients within 4-12 hours. Hypotension due to blood loss occurred in 3 patients (0.98%) who required blood transfusion. Five patients (1.6%) developed perirenal haematoma. Urinary retention requiring single catheterisation was seen in 12 cases (3.9%). Perirenal abscess occurred in one case. Minor complications improving with symptomatic medication included vomiting, abdominal pain and vasovagal attack in 3.6%, 2.6% and 1.6% cases respectively.