liver biopsy?

Question

hi do u need to fast 4 a liver biopsy??? what is it??

Answer 1

You do not need to fast for a liver biopsy. The procedure is rather simple and takes only 10 minutes or so. The skin over the liver is cleansed. The skin is typically anesthetized. A needle is then passed through the skin into the liver. The needle brings back a 'core' sample of the liver for analysis by a pathologist. It is similiar to pushing a cylinder into the earth to recover a core sample for analysis. There is little to no discomfort. There is little to no risk.

Answer 2

You should ask the facility where you are scheduled for the correct preparation. I assume the prep is different, depending on if you are having a biopsy in an outpatient surgical setting, endoscopy setting or an imaging facility (using CT or ultrasound guidance). You really want to show up prepared correctly, or you might be rescheduled.

This is for hospital setting:

"You must not eat or drink anything for 8 hours before the biopsy..."

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/liverbiopsy/

Endoscopy:

"On the day of the procedure, you may have a small liquid breakfast. These include water, apple juice, jello, broth, plain tea or ginger ale. Take no solid foods, milk or milk products. However, you should take no solid food after midnight the night before the procedure."

http://www.columbia.edu/~ddm1/liverbx.htm

Answer 3

I had a biopsy on my liver to determine auto immune disease. I had to fast for the anaesthetic. A fine needle is passed thru the skin to the liver, and a sample removed for testing. The procedure carries risks which are explained to you. If they are not, please make sure you ask.
Usually you are allowed home the same day if all is well.
I would add that you even have to fast for an ultrasound on the liver in most circumstances.

Answer 4

I had liver biopsy (needle biopsy) a month ago and i asked the doctor he said you may have a light breakfast and fasting is not necessary so i had light breakfast and biopsy was performed.

Answer 5

In short, no fasting is normally needed, although your hospital will specify otherwise. It is normally performed through the skin (percutaneously) to check for stages of liver disease, or the aetiology (cause) of liver problems, such as excess iron (HCT) or copper (wilsons), hepatitis, autoimmune causes etc....

If there has been a lesion in the liver seen on imaging, then often the biopsy is performed using ultrasound as a guide. This enables the cause of the lesion to be identified.

Answer 6

A liver biopsy is usually done after somehting is seen in an ultrasound and they so a fine needle aspiration. Most Doctors try and avoid doing them because the liver is jiggly and it's often hard to get a peice of tissue. So lots of Docs will do an MRI or Pet Scan instead. Good luck

Answer 7

the link has a general guide on the procedure,but if you have any doubts contact you GP for the most up to date advice

Answer 8

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/27000462/
found you a web site