Medical Health Tests Articles Liver Tests

People may be required to undergo a liver biopsy, in order to diagnose the presence of any liver disease or condition, to identify the cause or to know how severe it is. There are different liver biopsy procedures that may be recommended for people, depending upon their overall physical health. The objective of the liver biopsy is to obtain liver samples or tissues, using either a needle or a tube. In order to carry out the biopsy, the patient may be given a mild sedative. The entire procedure of the biopsy should last for no more than 20 minutes or so. Most people who are about to undergo this procedure are concerned about the liver biopsy recovery process.

After going through the liver biopsy, the patient is generally asked to rest for a few hours. During the liver biopsy recovery phase, the patient is usually taken to another room to rest and the nurse will keep a track of the breathing, pulse and blood pressure. Liver biopsy recovery time could vary, depending upon the type of procedure conducted as well as the patient's overall health; the recovery time after liver biopsy could be anywhere between 2 hours and 6 hours. Hence, it is not really necessary for a patient to stay at the hospital overnight, unless the doctor advises it, which is rare. The ideal liver biopsy recovery position is the patient lying down on the right side for about 2 hours or so.

Liver biopsy recovery pain should be minimal, after a while; however, many patients have been known to experience moderate pain in the shoulder or the right side of the body. For those patients who cannot take the pain, there are certain medicines that can be taken. Through most liver biopsy recovery procedures, patients are allowed to eat, drink and take their normal medication. It is advisable for all patients to have a family member or a friend close at this stage, as driving home is not recommended. Most doctors advise patients to restrict their activities for a day or two. Before leaving the recovery area, most patients are given a written set of instructions or a plan which should be followed at home.

There is a lot of information on liver biopsy recovery that is easily available through various resources. However, it is best for all patients to consult their doctors to get any queries and doubts clarified.