Liver puncture and ultrasound puncture
When diagnosing chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis and liver damage caused by cancer or alcohol, it is necessary to examine a tissue sample from the organ in detail. For this method, known as a puncture, the physician uses a hollow needle. The abdominal skin is disinfected and the puncture site is locally anaesthetized. The patient lies on their back, leaning slightly on their right side.
The needle, which is one to two millimetres thin, is then pushed through two rib arches and into the liver. There, the physician removes a small cylinder of tissue and immediately pulls the needle out again. The whole procedure only takes a few seconds. The tissue can then be examined in detail.
Sometimes physicians come across roundish zones in images of the liver or other organs that are clearly different from the surrounding tissue structure. These appearances, known as round foci, must be clarified. Tissue samples are also required for this. In order to obtain them, punctures are made using simultaneous ultrasound examination. This also allows drainage tubes to be inserted if, for example, pus has accumulated. Permanent or temporary drains for the treatment of abdominal fluid can also be implanted in this way. This is carried out under inpatient conditions.
Before the examination
Before the examination, you will be informed about the liver puncture either by your GP or by the attending physician at the outpatient clinic. You must appear for the puncture on an empty stomach.
After the examination
The puncture site will be thoroughly bandaged. After the examination, you will have to rest in bed for about four hours and will be monitored during this time. You will then be accompanied home. You should not lift anything heavy or do any sport for the next few days.
The puncture may cause temporary pain in the area of the puncture site or in the right shoulder. In very rare cases, neighboring organs such as the lungs, pleura, gall bladder, intestines or abdominal cavity may be injured during the examination.