[Liver biopsies--complications and consequences. A retrospective study of 147 percutaneous biopsies]

A retrospective study of 145 inpatients who during a five-year period underwent 147 percutaneous liver biopsies is presented. 8.2% of the biopsies were undertaken with ultrasound detection, 91.8% a.m. Menghini. Forty-four percent of the patients were suspected of alcohol induced liver disease, 20% had suspected malignancies. 7.5% had minor complications and 2.7% major complications after biopsy. The presence of risk factors was more pronounced among the patients who had complications than among those who did not. Seven patients underwent treatment for their liver disease after biopsy; none of these had alcohol induced liver disease, 1.6% of the bed days in the department were occupied by liver biopsy patients. It is concluded that percutaneous liver biopsy is a common, simple and cheap diagnostic procedure, but is not without risks. Risk patients can often be identified before biopsy.