ABSTRACT
Percutaneous liver biopsy is widely used for the diagnosis and management of liver diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of spinal [lumbar puncture] needle for percutaneous liver biopsy. 100 percutaneous liver biopsies were carried out on 76 male and 24 female patients [ages 16 to 60 years] using size 18 spinal [lumbar puncture] needles. Adequate tissue for histological diagnosis was obtained in 96% with 4% failures. One pass yielded adequate tissue for histological diagnosis in 70%, 2 passes were required in 25% and 5% needed 3 passes. Mean length of tissue obtained per pass was 4 cm. Fragmentation of biopsy specimen occurred in only 10%. The most common complication was procedure related pain, only one patient [1%] had a serious nonfatal haemorrhagic complication. We found spinal needle to be very economical, safe and efficacious for routine percutaneous liver biopsies