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What is a liver biopsy?
A liver biopsy is a medical procedure. The doctor who performs the biopsy
will remove a very small piece, or sample, of your liver. This piece is not
large enough to harm you permanently in any way.
Your liver sample will be taken to a laboratory, where it can be studied.
You shouldn't have to stay in the hospital longer than four to six hours
after the biopsy.
A liver biopsy is not usually painful. You will still need to avoid certain
kinds of physical activity for one to two weeks afterward, so that your body
can heal.
How will a liver biopsy help me?
A liver biopsy will help you and your doctor find out more about the health
of your liver. This is important if you have hepatitis C or another liver
disease, and you are trying to decide about treatment. A liver biopsy can
also be helpful if your doctor is not sure what is causing your liver
problem.
How is a liver biopsy done?
A liver biopsy is done in a hospital. You will probably lie flat on your
back during the whole procedure.
First, the doctor will "prep" you by finding the exact location of the liver
inside your body. Then, the doctor will clean the skin above this location,
and inject a
local anesthetic (pain-killer) into the area.
After the anesthetic has taken effect, the doctor will use a needle to take
out a small piece of your liver. This part of the procedure is done quickly.
Is a liver biopsy painful?
Most people who get a liver biopsy say that it doesn't hurt. You may feel a
sting when the doctor injects the anesthetic. You might also have a feeling
of pressure when the doctor inserts the biopsy needle into your side. Some
people say that they feel this pressure in their right shoulder, as well.
What happens after the liver biopsy is done?
After the biopsy is done, your doctor might ask you to roll over onto your
side and lie still for one or two hours. This is to make sure that you do
not have bleeding or other problems caused by getting up too soon. After a
while, your doctor might
order blood tests, just to make sure there are no other complications.
Before long, you will probably be told that you can go home. Follow your
doctor's advice not to lift heavy weights or exercise too hard for about two
weeks, so that your body has enough time to heal.
When shouldn't I have a liver biopsy?
You shouldn't have a liver biopsy if you have used aspirin or another
blood-thinning medicine the week before your procedure. You shouldn't take
these medicines in the week after your biopsy, either. Make sure that you
tell your doctor about all the medications you have been taking, or that you
plan to take.
You shouldn't have a liver biopsy if your doctor thinks that your liver
disease has progressed to the point that your blood doesn't clot normally.
What are the risks of a liver biopsy?
A liver biopsy is generally considered very safe. But as is true for any
medical procedure, there are also some risks. These risks include:
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Bleeding from the liver.
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Penetration of other organs, if something goes wrong when
the needle is inserted.
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Very very rarely, death (1 in 10,000 cases).
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Does everyone with liver disease need a biopsy?
No, not everyone. But if you have a serious or long-term liver problem
like hepatitis C,
a biopsy is the best way to get complete information about the health of
your liver. In some cases, your doctor might need to do a biopsy to find
out what's wrong, or to recommend the best treatment.
How many liver biopsies will I need?
Many people need a liver biopsy only once. Some people need them several
times. If your doctor thinks that your liver is changing, you might have
to have more than one liver biopsy. You might also need to have more than
one liver biopsy if you take medicine for hepatitis C, or if you have a
liver transplant.
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