Percutaneous renal biopsy: an audit of a 2 year experience with the Biopty gun.
OBJECTIVE
To review and audit our experience in the use of the semiautomated spring-loaded Biopty gun with ultrasound guidance for renal biopsy, and the results with those obtained eleven years earlier using the Franklin-modified Vim Silverman needle.


METHODS
We reviewed retrospectively the hospital notes of all patients who under went a percutaneous renal biopsy over a 2 year period at Christchurch Hospital.


RESULTS
There were 126 renal biopsies in 117 patients. Proteinuria (32%) remained the most common indication for renal biopsy. Renal transplant dysfunction (21%) was the next most common indication. IgA nephropathy was more frequently diagnosed than 11 years previously. Despite the use of a finer (18 gauge versus 14 gauge) needle, specimen adequacy was not jeopardised. Bleeding complications (7.9%) are still a significant occurrence with the Biopty gun. Complications in nine of the 10 cases developed within 8 hours of the biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
Over 50% of the renal biopsies were performed for the investigation of proteinuria or renal transplant dysfunction. The semiautomated spring-loaded Biopty gun with ultrasound guidance is easily used by the one operator but, in our experience, was not associated with a lower complication rate than the 14 gauge Vim Silverman needle. We now perform the elective percutaneous renal biopsy as a day case.
Voss
D M
DM
Department of Nephrology, Christchurch Hospital.
Lynn
K L
KL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography