LIVER-BIOPSY - EFFECTS OF BIOPSY NEEDLE CALIBER ON BLEEDING AND TISSUE RECOVERY

PURPOSE: To evaluate different-caliber biopsy cutting needles in terms of the benefits and potential risk of bleeding in a swine model. MATE RIALS AND METHODS: A total of 190 sequential liver biopsy specimens we re obtained in 11 Yorkshire pigs (weight, 50-70 1b [22.5-31.5 kg]) by using 14-, 18-, and 20-gauge cutting needles. For each biopsy procedur e, blood loss was determined by weighing sponges used to absorb bleedi ng, and sample-tissue DNA content was measured with spectrofluorometry . Analysis of variance was used to compare results. RESULTS: The large r the caliber of needle, the greater the absolute blood loss (for 14-g auge, 1.69 g; for 18-gauge, 0.74 g; for 20-gauge, 0.32 g) and DNA cont ent per sample (for 14 gauge, 40.38 mu g; for 18-gauge, 12.18 mu g; fo r 20-gauge, 5.86 mu g) The ratio of blood loss to amount of DNA recove red did not differ among the different-caliber needles. To obtain the same amount of diagnostic tissue, more passes were needed with the sma ller-caliber needles. CONCLUSION: Use of larger-caliber needles is mor e efficient despite the greater amount of blood loss, because more tis sue can be recovered and because fewer passes are necessary, which red uces the chances of complications.