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Sign up for our free e-mail newsletter, HEALTHbeat.   Email address:     Incontinence Weight Loss Prostate Disease Vitamins and Minerals Aching Hands See All Titles Common Medical Conditions Wellness & Prevention Emotional Well Being & Mental Health Women’s Health Men’s Health Heart & Circulatory Health   contact us		Liver Biopsy What is the test? How do I prepare for the test? What happens when the test is performed? What risks are there from the test? Must I do anything special after the test is over? How long is it before the result of the test is known? View other tests What is the test? A liver biopsy is a procedure to obtain a sample of your liver tissue so that it can be examined under a microscope. Liver biopsy is useful for determining the cause of hepatitis and for making decisions about how best to treat it. A liver biopsy can also be used to diagnose cancer in the liver. Back to top > How do I prepare for the test? You will need to sign a consent form giving your doctor permission to perform this test. You will most likely have an ultrasound done before the biopsy so your doctor can see the size of your liver. Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to lidocaine or the numbing medicine used at the dentist's office. If you are taking insulin, discuss this with your doctor before the test. If you take aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or other medicines that affect blood clotting, talk with your doctor. It may be necessary to stop or adjust the dose of these medicines before your test. You will also have blood tests to find out if you are at extra risk for bleeding after the procedure. You will be told not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the test. This is a safety precaution in case you are one of the rare patients who has a complication that might require surgery on the same day as the procedure. Back to top > What happens when the test is performed? Usually the liver biopsy is done in a special procedure clinic called the endoscopy area of a hospital. You wear a hospital gown. You have your blood pressure and oxygen level monitored with a blood pressure cuff and a finger clip. An IV (intravenous) line is put into your arm or hand in case you need to receive some fluid during the procedure. (You would be likely to need this only if you had a bleeding problem from the test.) The liver is located just under your ribs on the right side. Your doctor taps on your right rib cage and abdomen to find the edges of your liver. If your liver is on the small side, the doctor might use an ultrasound sensor to see exactly where the top and bottom of the liver are. Medicine through a small needle is used to numb the skin in one place over your lower ribs. The numbing medicine usually stings for a second. After this, the liver biopsy needle is inserted. The biopsy needle is 5-6 inches long, but it is not put that far inside you. A small piece of liver tissue is captured inside the needle. The needle is pulled out and the sample carefully removed. Most patients feel some definite soreness or cramping in their side and right shoulder after this test, but the soreness usually lasts for only 10-15 minutes. Back to top > What risks are there from the test? This test is safe for most patients, but there are some serious complications that can occur. One in 200 patients has some bleeding from the place where the needle went into the liver. When this occurs, the blood usually stays inside the sac that surrounds the liver and causes this lining to stretch to the point that you feel some pain for a few days. More serious bleeding occurs in only 1 out of every 1,000-2,500 patients. If you are one of the patients who has more serious bleeding, there is a chance that you will need surgery to stop the bleeding. Other risks include injury to the lung, intestine, or gallbladder. These rarely occur. Back to top > Must I do anything special after the test is over? After the biopsy, you will need to lie on your right side for a full two hours. This is done so that your weight puts pressure on the liver, reducing the chances of bleeding. You will be watched for four hours after that, with your blood pressure getting checked every now and then to make sure there is no sign that you are bleeding inside. Usually the doctor will allow you to eat and drink during this time. You should not do any heavy lifting or aerobic exercise for a couple of days, while your liver is healing. Back to top > How long is it before the result of the test is known? Examination of your liver sample by pathology doctors takes close to five days. Back to top > View other tests
		Click to enlarge Medical Tests: A Practical Guide to Common Tests Are you the type of person who panics when sent for even the most routine medical test? Medical Tests: A Practical Guide to Common Tests provides you with information about common screening and diagnostic medical tests so that you can breathe easier. You’ll learn why the test is needed, how to prepare for it, what happens during the test, and so much more. Now you can go in prepared!. Read more
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