Mini-laparoscopy in the endoscopy unit: Safety and outcomes in over one thousand patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the safety of consecutive mini-laparoscopy guided liver biopsies for the diagnosis and staging of liver diseases.


METHODS
In this study we retrospectively analyzed the safety of mini-laparoscopic liver biopsy performed in an endoscopy unit in 1071 patients. We measured the incidence of bleeding and evaluated the management and outcome of bleeding interventions.


RESULTS
The most common etiologies of liver injury were viral hepatitis and autoimmune liver disease. 250 patients had macroscopically and histologically proven cirrhosis. 13 patients had no pathological findings. 33% of all patients had bleeding that required argon plasma coagulation of the puncture site during laparoscopy. Significant bleeding occurred more often in patients with liver cirrhosis compared to non-cirrhotic liver diseases but was effectively treated with laparoscopic coagulation.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, mini-laparoscopy liver biopsy can be performed safely and effectively in high risk patients with advanced liver disease; mini-laparoscopy with liver biopsy can be done safely in an endoscopy unit.
Arthur Hoffman, Fareed Rahman, Sarah Prengel, Marcus Schuchmann, Martin Gotz, Markus Moehler, Peter Robert Galle, Ralf Kiesslich, First Department of Internal Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz 55101, Germany.
Arthur
A
Hoffman
Fareed
F
Rahman
Sarah
S
Prengel
Marcus
M
Schuchmann
Martin
M
Gotz
Markus
M
Moehler
Peter Robert
PR
Galle
Ziping
Z
Li
Anthony Nicholas
AN
Kalloo
Ralf
R
Kiesslich
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