Liver biopsy: Caring for your child at home after the procedure

What is a liver biopsy?

A liver biopsy is a procedure done to obtain a small sample of the liver so it can be examined under a microscope. A liver biopsy can help your child’s doctor identify problems in the liver, find the cause of liver disease, and/or determine how much damage is in the liver.

Discharge from the hospital

Most children who have a liver biopsy go home the same day. This usually happens six hours after the biopsy. The length of time differs depending on the age and health of your child, and the reason for the biopsy.

Your child will have a blood test about four hours after the biopsy to check for any changes in blood counts and to make sure the liver is not bleeding. An ultrasound scan may be ordered. Your child may have to be admitted overnight for further observation if their doctor feels it necessary.

Dressing care

Your child will have a dressing or bandage over the site of the biopsy. You can take the dressing off after 24 hours.

If the dressing gets wet or dirty, take it off and replace with a clean adhesive bandage. Your child may also have a bruise at the biopsy site, which can take up to 10 days to go away.

Bathing

Your child can bath or shower the day (24 hours) after the biopsy. However, it is very important to keep the bandage dry or replace it if it gets wet. A wet bandage can contribute to delayed healing and increase the risk of infection.

Meals

If your child is feeling well enough after the sedation or anaesthesia, they can return to eating what they normally eat. It is also important to encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids for 48 hours after the procedure.

Pain relief

Give your child acetaminophen for pain or discomfort if your child’s doctor allows it. Do not give your child any medicines that will thin the blood, such as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or ibuprofen, without checking with your child's health-care provider first.

Activity

After the biopsy, your child will need to stay home from school or daycare, and avoid physical activity for the first two days (48 hours). Your child may return to school 48 hours after the biopsy, with restricted activity. Your child should avoid all major activities for two full weeks. These include:

• contact sports
• gymnastics
• diving, swimming
• bicycle riding
• soccer
• rollerblading
• hockey
• skiing
• horseback riding

Results

The doctor who ordered the procedure will receive the results of your child's biopsy. You will need to make an appointment with them to discuss the results.

When to see a doctor

Call your child’s doctor or nurse, or go to the nearest Emergency Department if your child develops any of the following after discharge from the hospital:

• Bleeding from the site of the biopsy that soaks through the bandage
• Persistent abdominal or chest pain (shoulder pain up to two weeks after the biopsy)
• Throwing up (vomiting) blood or vomiting that does not stop
• Pale skin, weakness or dizziness
• Passage of tarry black stools
• Fever higher than 38°C (100.4°F)
• Redness, tenderness and/or swelling at the biopsy site
• Severe pain
• Swelling in the tummy
• General weakness

At SickKids

If you have any concerns in the first 48 hours, call the Image Guided Therapy (IGT) clinic at (416) 813- 7654 ext. 201804. Speak to the IGT clinic nurse during working hours or leave a non-urgent message.

If you have concerns and it is after working hours, see your primary care provider or go to the nearest Emergency Department. You can also call the Hospital for Sick Children switchboard at (416) 813-7500 and ask them to page a member of your child’s health-care team or the interventional radiology fellow on call.