A liver biopsy is a procedure used to obtain a very small piece of liver tissue so that doctors can examine the liver tissue under a microscope to arrive at the correct diagnosis. When other tests indicate that your liver may not be working properly, your doctor may want to do a liver biopsy to more accurately learn the condition of your liver.
A liver biopsy is ordered for,
Before the biopsy, your doctor will take blood samples to make sure your blood clots properly. You will not be able to eat or drink anything for eight hours before the test. After the procedure you will be requested to be in bed for 4-5 hours for monitoring. You may feel a bit of soreness at the needle site and sometimes over the right shoulder. Liver biopsy can be done as a day case and in select situations on inpatient basis. Liver biopsy does have some risks but they are not common. Risks include internal bleeding, injury to the lung, gallbladder. In experienced liver units these complications are rare and if at all they occur, remedial measures can be employed.
It is important to tell your doctor:
There are three ways of performing a liver biopsy.
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