Liver Biopsy
Liver Biopsy Explanation
A liver biopsy is a test performed to help determine if your child has a serious or chronic liver disease. If your child is known to have liver disease, a biopsy may also be done to see how he/she is responding to the medical treatment.
Getting Ready for the Liver Biopsy
- Depending on the child's age, a simple explanation of the procedure can be done. Ask your nurse or doctor for help.
- This test usually requires an overnight stay in the hospital.
- If your child takes medicine in the morning, please ask the doctor if his / her morning medicine should be taken before the biopsy.
- After your child is admitted to the hospital in the morning, he / she will have an intravenous (IV) line placed. Blood tests will also be done before the liver biopsy.
- You will be given special eating and drinking instructions when scheduling the procedure.
Liver Biopsy
- Your child will receive sedation medications before the biopsy. These medications will prevent your child from feeling pain or anxiety or remembering the procedure.
- Most liver biopsies at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center are done in the child's room, or the treatment room on the child's nursing unit. In certain cases, biopsies are performed in the Radiology Department or the Operating Room. The doctor will discuss with you where the biopsy will take place before the biopsy is scheduled.
- After your child receives the sedation medications, the doctor will perform the biopsy.
- An area on the right side of your child's abdomen will be cleansed with an antibacterial soap.
- The biopsy site will then be numbed with an injection of lidocaine (numbing medicine).
- The doctor will then insert a needle through the skin and into the liver to obtain a very small piece of liver tissue.
- The specimen will be sent to the lab to be analyzed.
- The doctor will apply a small "pressure" dressing to the site.
After the Liver Biopsy
- After the biopsy your child will stay in or return to his / her room.
- He / she will need to lie on his / her right side or back for 2 hours, depending upon your child's doctor's orders.
- Being in bed will reduce the chance of bleeding after the biopsy.
- Your child's temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen level will be monitored often.
- Once your child is awake and alert, he / she will be allowed to drink fluids. If fluids are tolerated, his / her regular diet can be restarted.
- For the remainder of the day, your child will need to participate in quiet activity in his / her room.
- He / she may be out of bed to use the bathroom only.
- Please bring a few of your child's favorite books or games with you to the hospital.
- We will also contact our Child Life Department to provide your child with additional activities.
- The results of the liver biopsy are usually available 1-2 days after the procedure.
Patient Education Program 3050 III 11/98
Rev. 2/07
