Liver biopsy and nursing intervention.

A liver biopsy is valuable in evaluating for liver disease. A biopsy is often the determining factor for final diagnosis. The Mengbini Klatskin and Tru-Cut needles are types of biopsy needles used in the GI department at the University of Rochester. The choice is based on the personal preference of the physician or on the type of biopsy. The RN's role in the GI department includes pre- and post-procedure planning, assistance during the procedure, patient and family education, and emotional support. It is important to develop a trusting rapport with patients undergoing a liver biopsy. In addition, confident assistance with the procedure and correct positioning of the patient lead to a successful procedure as well as to an uneventful recovery. In searching the literature, the authors found little current information to assist nurses in the assessment of patients about to undergo a liver biopsy. In this article, the authors present some recommendations from experience to assist others in providing quality patient care for liver biopsy procedures.

A prospective, randomized, blinded trial of cytological yield with disposable cytology brushes in upper gastrointestinal tract lesions.

Brush cytology is an important technique in the diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal tract lesions. Optimum cytological yields depend on cellularity (a measure of the amount of epithelial cellular material) and preservation (a measure of artifact induced by desiccation). We sought to determine the cytological yield of four disposable cytology brushes. Seventy-eight patients were studied, with a total of 80 disposable cytology brushes from four different manufacturers (Wilson-Cook, Microvasive, Mill-Rose, and Hobbs). Cellularity and preservation were assessed in a blinded fashion by experienced cytotechnologists. There was no significant difference in cellularity between the different non-disposable brushes. However, the Wilson Cook disposable cytology brush was significantly superior to the other disposable cytology brushes (P < 0.05) with regard to preservation. Its unique design features (longer head and more acutely angled bristles) may account for the better results.