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:
Bleeding from the liver.
Penetration of other organs, if something goes wrong
when the needle is inserted.
Very rarely, death (1 in 10,000 cases).
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.
