2017 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

Thrombocytopathia may have contributed to clinical bleeding during laparoscopic liver biopsy in this group of dogs with hepatobiliary disease. Additionally, all dogs with low antithrombin had Gelfoam Ò placed at biopsy sites to aid hemostasis. Low antithrombin may reflect decreased liver function and/or be due to consumption as a consequence of low-grade disseminated intravascular coagulation. As hypofibrinogenemia was correlated with hypoalbuminemia, it is possible fibrinogen could be assessed as an additional marker of hepatic function. In these 27 dogs, laparoscopic liver biopsy was safe and adequate samples to achieve a histologic diagnosis were obtained in all cases. Hepatic biopsy is often necessary for a definitive diagnosis of liver disease. Because the liver plays a central role in hemostasis, bleeding after biopsy procedure is a concern. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for bleeding following percutaneous ultrasound-guided liver biopsy. The records of 104 dogs and 30 cats that had a percutaneous ultrasound-guided liver biopsy were retrospectively reviewed. Based on human guidelines for bleeding, blood loss was classified as minor, moderate and severe by an absolute decrease in the hematocrit of ≤ 6%, 7-14% and ≥ 15%, respectively. Complications were defined as physiologic compromises that necessitated an intervention (transfusion or resuscitative fluids) or death. The relationship between change in hematocrit/ complications and initial hematocrit, PT, aPTT, platelet count, serum parameters (liver enzymes, bilirubin) as well as the number of biopsies, biopsy needle gauge, final histological diagnosis and ultrasonographic findings (focal vs diffuse, nodularity, ascites) were assessed using Chi square tests, One Way Analysis of Variance or Pearson's correlation coefficient with a P value < 0.05 considered significant.