Percutaneous liver biopsy - 2 decades of experience in a public hospital in the South of Brazil

Abstract

Introduction. Liver biopsy is a complementary method for diagnosis, staging and therapeutic guidance in liver diseases, where chronic viral hepatitis are the most acknowledged causes for the indication of histopa-thological study. The objective is to assess the patients’ profile as well as the indication and results of percutaneous liver biopsies in a tertiary hospital.Material and methods. A descriptive, cross-section study was carried out through the review of medical charts (retrospective cohort) of patients submitted to blind percutaneous liver biopsies (PLB) at a hospital in Porto Alegre, South Brazil, from October 1993 to December 2011.Results. 1,955 PLB were carried out, the mean patients’ age was 44.8 years old, and 1,127 (57.65%) were men. Chronic hepatitis C was the main indication (60.5%), followed by HCV-HIV coinfection (12.2%) and chronic hepatitis B (3.5%). Seven cases (0.3%) had complications, without deaths.Conclusion. PLB is a safe method and continues to be an important option to assist patients with chronic liver disease.

Keywords

• Liver biopsy
• Chronic hepatitis
• Hepatitis C.