[Percutaneous renal biopsy with a semi-automate device].
BACKGROUND
The percutaneous renal biopsy is a fundamental investigation in the diagnostic procedure for renal diseases. The introduction of the kidney localisation by real-time ultrasounds made the procedure more effective and safe. The use of semi-automated and automated biopsy devices seems to go in the same way.


METHODS
In this paper a retrospective investigation is made on 118 renal biopsies performed at our Nephrology Unit from 1990 to 1999 with the semi-automated device Biopty Bard and with direct ultrasounds guidance. The number of post-biopsy complications have been evaluated.


RESULTS
Any major complications (as surgical interventions and deaths) have been observed. The number of minor complications was low and in agreement with the literature data (post-biopsy macrohematuria = 6.8%, hemoglobin loss =/>20% = 0.8%, hematoma = 5.1%, lumbar pain 0.8%). The 98.4% of renal biopsies were diagnostic and 91.4% had a number of glomeruli =/>5.


CONCLUSIONS
The automated ultrasound-guided procedure is a feasible and reliable technique for percutaneous renal biopsy. It gives a greater yield of diagnostic tissue without increasing the rate of clinical complications, even in Nephrology Units, such as ours, that perform a small number of biopsies every years.
Aimino
M
M
ASL n. 9, Ivrea, Italy.
Francisco
M
M
Garnieri
G
G
Chioso
P
P
Ollino
M
M
Comune
M
M
Giacchino
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors