title: Safety of pediatric percutaneous liver biopsy performed by interventional radiologists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  National data suggest that pediatric percutaneous liver biopsy is increasingly being performed by interventional radiologists rather than pediatric gastroenterologists. The objective of the present report is to describe the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous liver biopsy performed by interventional radiologists in a large cohort of children and to compare the results with the existing literature on biopsies performed by pediatric gastroenterologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 249 children undergoing ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy by interventional radiologists were reviewed for adverse events and success of obtaining tissue. Two hundred ninety-four biopsies were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no deaths. There were 2 instances of a 2-g or greater drop in hemoglobin following biopsy, neither of which was associated with clinical signs of hemorrhage. A small, asymptomatic pneumothorax quickly resolved without treatment. One patient developed Klebsiella sepsis 48  hours after biopsy. In all but 1 case, an adequate sample size was obtained. This low incidence of adverse events compares favorably with existing published reports of morbidity and mortality following percutaneous liver biopsy performed by pediatric gastroenterologists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy performed by experienced pediatric interventional radiologists in a children's hospital setting is as safe and effective as biopsy performed by pediatric gastroenterologists.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital and Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. carol.potter@nationwidechildrens.org
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hogan
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Henry-Kendjorsky
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balint
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barnard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011361:Professional Competence; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital; D015642:Radiology, Interventional; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult