Ultrasound-Guided Liver Biopsy: What You Need to Know
An abdominal procedure called a liver biopsy involves removing a small piece of tissue from the abdominal region. If your doctor suspects that there is a problem with the bile duct, they may recommend this procedure.
A computer screen is used to produce a moving image of an internal organ using a type of image called sputum. Your doctor can use the images to help find the lump or mass.
“The procedure is safe and effective in helping to diagnose the problems of the liver. It is an outpatient procedure, so you don’t have to stay in the hospital overnight, and results are usually available in a few days.”
Doctors consider the gold standard for diagnosis of liver problems to be theechocardiography-guided liver biopsy.
- The cancer of the liver.
- There is a disease called hepatitis.
- It is called cirrhosis.
“A blood test or other tool that can’t confirm a diagnosis is helpful.”
An abdominal procedure called an echocardiography-guided liver biopsy is a procedure that can be ordered by your doctor to better understand the severity of your disease. In some cases, your doctor may perform a liver biopsy to help determine the best treatment or gauge how well your current treatment is working.
There are two main types of liver biopsies, which are the percutaneous and the traditional.
In a transjugular liver biopsy, medical staff insert a needle through your jugular vein in your neck and pass it through your veins down to your liver. According to the
A surgical liver biopsy is the other type of liver biopsy. If you are having surgery for other conditions, you may have this.
Ultrasound-guided vs. CT-guided liver biopsy
There are other guided approaches to a liver biopsy. Your doctor may suggest a different type of medicine. A 3D image on a computer screen is produced by a special type of X-ray called a computed Tomography.
According to 2017 research, ultrasound has several benefits over CT, including:
- It is wider availability.
- There was no radiation.
- The procedure time is shorter.
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The risks of infections and bleeding are the same for an abdominal procedure as they are for a liver biopsy.
However, a
You will be given a brief physical assessment before the biopsy, and then you will change into a hospital gown.
You will lie down on a table with your stomach uncovered before the actual procedure. The technician will spread a warm gel on you. The sound waves from the machine are carried by this gel.
“The technician will place a small microphone over the part of the body that your doctor wants to examine. You may feel a little pressure from the transducer, but it’s not a pain.”
Your doctor will view the images on the computer. A nurse will clean your abdomen after your doctor identifies the area of concern. They will numb the area with an injection.
The team will give you instructions on what to do. You need to hold your breath for a few seconds at certain points in the procedure, as the liver moves slightly when you exhale and inhale.
Your doctor will insert a needle into your skin to get a better idea of where you are. A small piece of tissue can be removed from a needle once it reaches the suspicious tissue. You may hear a sound when the device is turned on.
Your doctor will remove the needle. A nurse or technician will bandage the injection site.
You should talk with your healthcare team about any changes to your medication and any other precautions you should take a week before your procedure.
For example, they may advise you to avoid blood-thinning medications or aspirin for up to a week before the procedure. Be sure you get specific guidance on these or other medications. Don’t just stop taking any medication on your own without consulting with your doctor.
You’ll probably also have a blood test in the days leading up to the biopsy. If you don’t have a blood test, you may have to have blood drawn before the procedure.
You will have to avoid drinking and eating for about 8 hours before the biopsy. Taking certain medications with water may be permissible.
The injection site will be cleaned and bandaged after the procedure. You can go home after 3 or 4 hours, but you will need someone to drive you.
You will probably feel some pain at the injection site as the local anesthetic wears off. The pain may go up towards your shoulders.
Lifting should be avoided for a few days after you are home. You should be able to resume most of your activities within a day or two.
The lab should send the results from the biopsied tissue within a few days, but it will take 2 weeks to get to your doctor. Your doctor should talk to you about the results, whether any more tests are needed, and whether it is time to develop a treatment plan.
Will I be under anesthesia during an ultrasound-guided liver biopsy?
The medical team will use a local anesthetic to numb the area where the technician inserts the needle. General anesthesia is not required.
How long does an ultrasound-guided liver biopsy take?
The procedure should take about 30 minutes from the time they begin to prepare you until they place a bandage over the injection site.
Will insurance or Medicare cover an ultrasound-guided liver biopsy?
Medicare and most other insurance programs should cover the cost of the procedure if your doctor determines that a liver biopsy is necessary.
If your doctor is concerned about the health of your liver, he or she may recommend an abdominal procedure. It is a procedure that is widely performed and usually with little to no problems.
Doctors use it to diagnose a problem with the liver. It can help them determine how well your treatment is working.
