Comparative evaluation of laparoscopic versus ultrasound guided liver biopsy techniques in canines

Abstract

Liver biopsy was collected through laparoscopy with simultaneous cauterization and ultrasound guided percutaneous needle biopsy techniques in the present study, whose principal aim was to comparatively evaluate the efficacy of these 2 techniques and to study its effects on the liver of healthy dogs. Furthermore, we tried to verify the main hematological and biochemical profile alterations related to the liver function, and to investigate the viability of the fragments collected by histopathology. To attain this objective, 18 clinically healthy mongrel dogs were subjected to laparoscopic liver biopsy with simultaneous cauterization and ultrasound guided percutaneous biopsy using a tru-cut biopsy needle. A total of 36 liver biopsies were collected through these 2 techniques in the 2 groups. In subgroups of each technique 1, 2 or 3 hepatic fragments were collected per animal. Haematocrit and alanine-asparate transaminase measurements were made to evaluate the animals at the pre-biopsy period, at 1 and 2 h and on day 1, 3 and 7 post biopsy. The results revealed that the laparoscopic procedure was comparatively safer and effective for liver biopsy in dogs. There were no clinical and haemato-biochemical alterations related to these techniques. The fragments collected were viable for histopathology. The successful biopsy attempts to get diagnostically useful specimen was 100% in laparoscopic technique, whereas it was 72% in ultrasound guided group. Postoperative complications were more in ultrasound guided group than with laparoscopic technique. Liver biopsy through laparoscopy with simultaneous cauterization was effective and useful in dogs