BACKGROUND: The percutaneous renal biopsy is a fundamental investigation in the diagnostic procedure for renal diseases. The introduction of the kidney localisation by real-time ultrasounds made the procedure more effective and safe. The use of semi-automated and automated biopsy devices seems to go in the same way. METHODS: In this paper a retrospective investigation is made on 118 renal biopsies performed at our Nephrology Unit from 1990 to 1999 with the semi-automated device Biopty Bard and with direct ultrasounds guidance. The number of post-biopsy complications have been evaluated. RESULTS: Any major complications (as surgical interventions and deaths) have been observed. The number of minor complications was low and in agreement with the literature data (post-biopsy macrohematuria = 6.8%, hemoglobin loss =/>20% = 0.8%, hematoma = 5.1%, lumbar pain 0.8%). The 98.4% of renal biopsies were diagnostic and 91.4% had a number of glomeruli =/>5. CONCLUSIONS: The automated ultrasound-guided procedure is a feasible and reliable technique for percutaneous renal biopsy. It gives a greater yield of diagnostic tissue without increasing the rate of clinical complications, even in Nephrology Units, such as ours, that perform a small number of biopsies every years.
BACKGROUND: The percutaneous renal biopsy is a fundamental investigation in the diagnostic procedure for renal diseases. The introduction of the kidney localisation by real-time ultrasounds made the procedure more effective and safe. The use of semi-automated and automated biopsy devices seems to go in the same way. METHODS: In this paper a retrospective investigation is made on 118 renal biopsies performed at our Nephrology Unit from 1990 to 1999 with the semi-automated device Biopty Bard and with direct ultrasounds guidance. The number of post-biopsy complications have been evaluated. RESULTS: Any major complications (as surgical interventions and deaths) have been observed. The number of minor complications was low and in agreement with the literature data (post-biopsy macrohematuria = 6.8%, hemoglobin loss =/>20% = 0.8%, hematoma = 5.1%, lumbar pain 0.8%). The 98.4% of renal biopsies were diagnostic and 91.4% had a number of glomeruli =/>5. CONCLUSIONS: The automated ultrasound-guided procedure is a feasible and reliable technique for percutaneous renal biopsy. It gives a greater yield of diagnostic tissue without increasing the rate of clinical complications, even in Nephrology Units, such as ours, that perform a small number of biopsies every years.