Children were typically followed for 4 hours following a percutaneous liver biopsy conducted on an outpatient basis at our hospital, then discharged once a stable hematocrit level was verified. In June 2015, researchers implemented a quality improvement initiative that included a 2-hour monitoring period for patients with no known concerns, and the hematocrit test was discontinued. The goal of this study is to assess the clinical and economic consequences of children discharged early after a liver biopsy. They evaluated data from two groups of children who had outpatient ultrasound-guided non targeted core needle liver biopsy. The groups A and B were compared. Group A had 92 patients with an average age of 11.1 years and a weight of 52.6 kg. Group B consisted of 92 individuals with an average age of 8.9 years and a weight of 40.5 kg. The average length of observation for groups A and B was 281 minutes and 147 minutes, respectively. In group B, the average recovery expenses were decreased by 35% per surgery. In all operations, the tissue retrieved was sufficient for pathologic diagnosis.
Enhanced recovery with early release of low-risk children after 2-hour monitoring following percutaneous liver biopsy can be performed safely and without compromising the result. A shorter post biopsy monitoring period can save money and may enhance patient satisfaction.
Reference: https://journals.lww.com/jpgn/Abstract/2020/10000/Two_hour_Observation_After_Liver_Biopsy_in.9.aspx
