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Date issued: December 2023

Review date: December 2025

Ref: A-488/AC/Surgery/Ultrasound Guided Liver Biopsy post procedure care v2

PDF:  Ultrasound guided Liver biopsy aftercare 2023 v2.pdf[pdf] 55KB

Ultrasound Guided Liver Biopsy

Aftercare Advice

• Please ensure that someone can escort you home and stay with you overnight.

• You may eat and drink as normal after the procedure.

• A small dressing will be placed over the biopsy site and can be replaced if needed. The site should not need to be dressed after a few days. You will be able to take a shower the day after your biopsy and a bath after 2-3 days.

• Strenuous sports and heavy lifting should be avoided for the first 10 days.

• Returning to work will depend on your job. If your job involves heavy lifting, you may be advised to take a week off work. If your job does not involve heavy lifting, you may return to work 2 days after the biopsy.

• If you experience any pain, take some painkillers such as paracetamol unless instructed differently by the hepatology team.

• Continue to take your normal medication as prescribed unless this includes warfarin or other blood thinning medication. Patients on warfarin should follow advice given by their hepatology team.

• Patients on other blood thinning/antiplatelet medication such as clopidogrel/apixaban should restart the medication 48 hours after the biopsy.

• Patients who stopped aspirin for the procedure should also restart 48 hours after the biopsy.

When should you call for help?

Call 999 if you have any of the following:

• Shortness of breath.

• Chest pains.

• Loss of consciousness (if you passed out or fainted) / dizziness on standing.

What if I have a problem at home?

Bleeding or swelling from the biopsy puncture site is rare but if it does happen, lie down and apply pressure for 10 minutes. If the bleeding or swelling continues after 10 minutes go to your nearest Emergency Department (ED).

The results of your biopsy will be discussed with you in an outpatient clinic appointment 6 weeks after your procedure, unless this is deemed urgent.

If you have any queries, please contact the Hepatology department on 01752 439002. Leave a message on the answerphone if there is no reply and we will get back to you or you can email plhtr.HepatologySecretaries@nhs.net