title: [Renal biopsy practice in Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta].
abstract: In 2010 a questionnaire was administered to the renal units of Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta to analyze their procedures for renal biopsy (RB). Seventy-eight percent of units performed RBs, 57% for more than 20 years, but only 43% performed at least 20 BRs per year. 20/21 units performed RB in an inpatient setting and 1/21 in day hospital with the patient remaining under observation the night after. Thirty-two percent did not consider a single kidney as a contraindication to RB, 59% considered it a relative contraindication and 9% considered it an absolute contraindication. In 90.5% of units there was a specific protocol for patient preparation for RB and 86% used a specific informed consent form. Ninety-five percent of units performed ultrasound-guided RB, 60% of them using needle guides attached to the probe. In 81% of units the left side was preferred; 71% put a pillow under the patient's abdomen. All units used disposable, automated or semi-automated needles. Needle size was 16G in 29%, 18G in 58%, and both 16G and 18G in 14% of units; 1 to 3 samples were drawn. One third of units had a microscope available for immediate evaluation of specimen adequacy. After RB, 86% of units kept patients in the prone position for 2-6 hours and all prescribed a period of bed rest (at least 24 hours in 90.5%). 90.5% of units followed a specific postbiopsy observation protocol consisting of blood pressure, heart rate and red blood cell measurements at different times, and urine monitoring and ultrasound control within 12-24 hours (only half of them also employing color Doppler). One third of all units discharged patients after 1 day and two thirds after 2-3 days; all prescribed abstention from effort and from antiplatelet drugs for 7-15 days. In 9 units both RB and tissue processing and examination were done in the same hospital, while 12 units sent the samples elsewhere. 76% obtained results in 2-4 days, 19% in 6-7 days, and 5% in 10-15 days. Less than 20% of the interviewed operators were fully familiar with the clauses of hospital insurance securing their activity. Use of RB is widespread in Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta but its practice shows variation between centers.
authors.affiliation: Struttura di Nefrologia e Dialisi, Ospedale di Alessandria, Alessandria, Italy. mmanganaro@ospedale.al.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manganaro
authors.forename: Pier Eugenio
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Nebiolo
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rollino
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giacchino
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savoldi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Besso
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colla
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amore
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marazzi
authors.forename: Doriana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chiarinotti
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guarnieri
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quaglia
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manes
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vaccaro
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marcuccio
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Licata
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patti
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mariano
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bongi
authors.forename: Ercole
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biamino
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Boschetti
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Della Volpe
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Malcangi
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baroni
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vagelli
authors.forename: Luigia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salomone
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Formica
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caramello
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pignone
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Messuerotti
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roccatello
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stratta
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Segoloni
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coppo
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'