Incidence and Predictors of Complications Following Percutaneous Liver Biopsy: A Large Italian Multicentre Study

• DOI: 10.1111/liv.70078
• Publication Date: 2025-04-02T23:07:08Z
• Authors: Francesca Colapietro; Mauro Viganò; Federica Cerini; Riccardo Plebani; Alberto Savino; Maria Pia Calabrese; Paolo Marra; Kessy Djonis Mart...; Sara Taboni; Agostino Cosenza; Alessandro Loglio; Carmelo Selvaggio; Maria Grazia Lucà; Chiara Masellis; Benedetta Mori; Nicola Pugliese; Chiara Masetti; Elisa Farina; Stella De Nicola; Roberto Ceriani; Ana Lleo; Riccardo Muglia; Sandro Sironi; Stefano Fagiuoli; Alessio Aghemo

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Management of ultrasound (US)‐guided percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB) lacks standardisation. Despite the low risk major complications (< 1%), repeated blood counts up to 4 h in‐hospital observation are typically recommended. We aimed assess complication rates predictors in a large cohort patients undergoing US‐PLB across three Italian tertiary centres. included all from January 2018 December 2023. collected clinical, biochemical procedural features (needle type, insertions number, time antiplatelet/anticoagulant regimens). Safety was assessed by incidence pain complications, including vasovagal reaction, bleeding, pneumothorax, shock, hospitalisation death. Approach Results Among 1838 (mean age 55.1 years, 46.1% females, mean BMI 25.1 kg/m 2 , 74% parenchymal PLB), few were on anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy (4.2%/16.2%); platelet count PT INR 209.7 × 10 3 /mm 1.04; 17 (0.9%) received prophylactic (blood components, thrombopoietin receptor agonists or vitamin K). Needle aspiration predominant (92%). During 5.4 ± 2.0 h, 134/1838 reported (7.4%). Major (26, 1.4%), with 14 episodes transient hypotension (0.8%); bleeding events (0.5%); 1 pneumothorax; abscess formation; haemobilia; episode chest pain. Hospitalisation rare (12, 0.7%), primarily for management. No fatalities recorded. Pain sole significant independent predictor (18/26, HR 30.6, p < 0.05), particularly when within first hour post‐procedure (15/18, 83.3%). Conclusions following strongly associated early post‐procedural In absence hour, extended monitoring may be unnecessary, allowing earlier patient discharge.