Comparison of a new aspiration needle device and the Quick-Core biopsy needle for transjugular liver biopsy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate sample adequacy, safety, and needle passes of a new biopsy needle device compared to the Quick-Core biopsy needle for transjugular liver biopsy in patients affected by liver disease.


METHODS
Thirty consecutive liver-disease patients who had major coagulation abnormalities and/or relevant ascites underwent transjugular liver biopsy using either a new needle device (18 patients) or the Quick-Core biopsy needle (12 patients). The length of the specimens was measured before fixation. A pathologist reviewed the histological slides for sample adequacy and pathologic diagnoses. The two methods'specimen adequacy and complication rates were assessed.


RESULTS
Liver biopsies were technically successful in all 30 (100%) patients, with diagnostic histological core specimens obtained in 30 of 30 (100%) patients, for an overall success rate of 100%. With the new device, 18 specimens were obtained, with an average of 1.1 passes per patient. Using the Quick-Core biopsy needle, 12 specimens were obtained, with an average of 1.8 passes per patient. Specimen length was significantly longer with the new needle device than with the Quick-Core biopsy needle (P < 0.05). The biopsy tissue was not fragmented in any of the specimens with the new aspiration needle device, but tissue was fragmented in 3 of 12 (25.0%) specimens obtained using the Quick-Core biopsy needle. Complications included cardiac arrhythmia in 3 (10.0%) patients, and transient abdominal pain in 4 (13.3%) patients. There were no cases of subcapsular hematoma, hemoperitoneum, or sepsis, and there was no death secondary to the procedure. In particular, no early or delayed major procedure-related complications were observed in any patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Transjugular liver biopsy is a safe and effective procedure, and there was significant difference in the adequacy of the specimens obtained using the new needle device compared to the Quick-Core biopsy needle. Using the new biopsy needle device, the specimens showed no tissue fragmentation and no increment in major procedure-related complications was observed.
Ishikawa
Toru
T
Department of Gastroenterology, Saiseikai Niigata Second Hospital, Teraji 280-7, Niigata 950-1104, Japan. toruishi@ngt.saiseikai.or.jp
Kamimura
Hiroteru
H
Tsuchiya
Atsunori
A
Togashi
Tadayuki
T
Watanabe
Kouji
K
Seki
Kei
K
Ohta
Hironobu
H
Yoshida
Toshiaki
T
Ishihara
Noriko
N
Kamimura
Tomoteru
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001201:Ascites; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged