A liver biopsy is a medical procedure that removes a small piece of liver tissue so doctors can examine the liver's condition. There are three main types of liver biopsies - needle biopsy, laparoscopic biopsy, and transvenous biopsy. After a liver biopsy, the patient will need to limit activity and lie on their right side to allow the biopsy site to heal. A liver biopsy can help diagnose liver disease, detect cancer or infections, and provide insight into abnormal liver enzyme levels or swelling of the liver.

1. Liver Biopsy

2. Why is the liver
important?
Your liver processes what
you eat and drink into energy
and nutrients your body can
use. It also removes harmful
substances from your blood.

3. What is a
Liver Biopsy?
A liver biopsy is a medical
procedure used to remove
a small piece of liver tissue
so doctors can examine the
liver’s condition.

4. A liver biopsy helps:
• Diagnose liver disease and the
stage it is at
• Detect cancer and infections
• Provide reasons for liver
swelling or abnormal levels of
liver enzymes

5. Before a biopsy,
tell your doctor:
• All the medications you
are taking
• Bleeding problems you
may have
• Allergies you may have
• If you are pregnant

6. Needle Biopsy
As you lie on your back with your
right hand over your head, you
are provided with anesthesia
and/or a local anesthetic
injection to numb the biopsy
area. Then your doctor inserts a
small needle on the right side,
near your rib cage, to obtain a
liver tissue sample. The entire
process lasts about 20 minutes.

7. Laparoscopic Biopsy
Through a small incision in your
abdomen, a laparoscope is
inserted. The laparoscope guides
your doctor to take the samples
from specific parts of your liver.

8. Transvenous Biopsy
Via a catheter inserted into a
neck vein, your doctor inserts
and guides a biopsy needle
into your liver to take tiny
tissue samples.
The transvenous biopsy is
typically performed on patients
with blood clotting problems or
abdominal fluid.

9. What to Expect After
a Liver Biopsy
After a liver biopsy, your cut
will be bandaged and you must
lie on your right side for a few
hours. You will need to limit
your physical activity. Any pain
or soreness you experience will
subside in a few hours or days.

10. Cutting-Edge Research
For Liver Disease
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