Open renal biopsy. Surgical technique and results.

This report describes our experience with a new modified approach for open renal biopsy. The biopsy is performed under general anesthesia through a small anterior incision and extraperitoneal approach. A generous incisional biopsy of the lower pole is obtained, and bleeding is controlled with mattress sutures. Thirty biopsies were obtained in 30 patients. The pathologic diagnoses included glomerulonephropathy (16), necrotizing vasculitis (5), degenerative phase of acute tubular necrosis (4), congenital nephrotic syndrome (2), interstitial nephritis (1), renal invasion by reticulum cell sarcoma (1), and juxtaglomerular cell hyperplasia (1). Ages ranged from 12 months to 75 years. There were no intra- or postoperative complications. There was one late postoperative death secondary to a ventricular arrhythmia. This approach is rapid, safe, and provides more adequate tissue for histologic and electron microscopic examination than does percutaneous needle biopsy.