COMPLICATIONS

Complications after liver biopsy are uncommon but may include bile peritonitis, hemorrhage, and sepsis. The risk of complications is greater in patients with coagulopathies and thrombocytopenia.^14,15 Major complication rates during hepatic biopsies have been reported to be as high as 22% and 50% in dogs and cats that are thrombocytopenic.¹⁴ Many patients with liver disease are debilitated from hypoalbuminemia and compromised liver function, increasing the risk of potential complications with anesthesia and surgery such as hypotension and altered metabolism of anesthetic and analgesic drugs.

Diana Burger, BS
Amie Carrier, BS
Karen M. Tobias, DVM, MS, DACVS
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-4544

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6. Cohen M, Bohling MW, Wright JC, et al. Evaluation of sensitivity and specificity of cytologic examination: 269 cases (1999-2000). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003;222:964-967.

7. de Rycke LMJH, van Bree HJJ, Simoens PJM. Ultrasound-guided tissue-core biopsy of liver, spleen and kidney in normal dogs. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 1999;40:294-299.

8. Cole TL, Center SA, Flood SN, et al. Diagnostic comparison of needle and wedge biopsy specimens of the liver in dogs and cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002;220:1483-1490.

9. Valverde A, Doherty TJ, Hernandez J, et al. Effect of lidocaine on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in dogs. Vet Anaesth Analg 2004;31:264-271.

10. Hellyer PW, Mama KR, Shafford HL, et al. Effects of diazepam and flumazenil on minimum alveolar concentrations for dogs anesthetized with isoflurane or a combination of isoflurane and fentanyl. Am J Vet Res 2001;62:555-560.

11. Garner MM, Raymond JT, Toshkov I, et al. Hepatocellular carcinoma in black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludivicianus): tumor morphology and immunohistochemistry for hepadnavirus core and surface antigens. Vet Pathol 2004;41:353-361.

12. Richter KP. Laparoscopy in dogs and cats. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2001;31:707-727.

13. Kim EH, Kopecky KK, Cummings OW, et al. Electrocautery of the tract after needle biopsy of the liver to reduce blood loss. Invest Radiol 1993;28:228-230.