Bone Biopsy / Liver Biopsy / Lung Biopsy / Abdominal or Pelvic Biopsy › Diagnostic Imaging › Services

Pre-Admission Testing for Biopsy  

Your physician has scheduled you for a biopsy at UMC.  It will be necessary for you to pre-admit for your biopsy.  This pre-admission can be performed up to 2 weeks prior to your procedure but MUST BE done NO LATER than 24 hours prior to your scheduled biopsy.  Your pre-admission will be performed at the UMC Outpatient Center.  When you arrive at the Outpatient Center, you will sign in at the front desk to await registration.  Once you are registered, you will be escorted to the Testing area where a Registered Nurse will interview you to obtain your medical history.  Please be sure to bring with you a complete list of all medications, prescription and over-the-counter, that you are currently taking.  Be sure to include the dosage of the medication(s) and how often you take each one.  The Pre-Admission Nurse will need this list.  Your Physician may also order pre-admission lab work, chest x-ray, and/or EKG exam that will all be taken care of at this time.  Your Pre-Admission Nurse will also confirm with you the scheduled time of arrival for your biopsy.

Day of Procedure  

Arrive at the UMC Outpatient Center at the designated time for your biopsy.  You will sign in at the front desk to notify them of your arrival. It is required that you have had nothing to eat or drink after midnight.  If you did not pre-admit for necessary blood work and assessments, you will be taken to Outpatient Testing.  This will take approximately 45 minutes to complete before your exam can be initiated.  Please bring only 2 visitors or family members with you for your biopsy. There is very limited seating in the Outpatient lobby and we want your family members to be comfortable during their wait time while your procedure is being performed.  You and your family members/visitors will be escorted from the waiting room to the area where the procedure will be performed.  At that time, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown.  Your clothes and valuables will then be given to your family member (or visitor) to keep while your procedure is being performed.  You and your visitors will be given an expected time frame for how long the biopsy will take.  Please be sure to have a responsible adult remain at UMC throughout the entire length of the biopsy.

Procedure  

You will be taken to a private area where your medical history can be reviewed and consent signed.  DO NOT BE ALARMED IF YOU ARE ASKED SIMILAR QUESTIONS by different staff on several occasions.  This is used as a safety check before your procedure.  It will be necessary to have an IV started at this time.  The area to be biopsied will then be scanned and may be marked by the technologist.  Your vital signs must be monitored and the nurse will now attach you to a unit that will perform the monitoring.  The Radiologist will introduce himself and will discuss with you the risks and benefits of the procedure. After that has taken place, the nurse will give you medication that will allow you to relax and relieve discomfort that you may have from the procedure.    

Before the procedure starts the entire team; Radiologist, nurse, and technologist will perform a “Time Out”.  The “Time Out” consists of each team member agreeing on the following; CORRECT PATIENT, CORRECT PROCEDURE, CORRECT SURGICAL SITE, CORRECT PATIENT POSITION, and USING THE CORRECT EQUIPMENT.  This “Time Out” is performed for your safety.  The Radiologist will then numb the area to be biopsied with Lidocaine so that you will not feel the needle placement.  This may cause a stinging sensation for a few seconds until the numbness takes effect. The Radiologist will compare your original scan with the one just taken and determine exactly where to place the needle.  A series of scans will be done to ensure the needle is in the appropriate place.  Once this is confirmed, another needle will be placed through the existing needle and a piece of tissue or bone (depending upon the biopsy site) will be taken. It will be necessary for the Pathologist to microscopically examine the sample.  This can take from 15-30 minutes.  If needed, you may receive medication to help you relax during this “wait” time.  If the sample is adequate, a small dressing will be placed over the puncture site.  If you have received a lung biopsy, a chest x-ray will now be taken to ensure there was no leakage of air into your chest cavity. The nurse will take you to an outpatient recovery area or an in-patient room, depending on the nature of your procedure.

Recovery Area  

After arriving in the recovery area, your vital signs will be monitored and you will be assessed by a nurse.  The nurse will assess your pain on a 1 to 10 scale, 1 being the least and 10 being the worst.  You should not have pain, only mild discomfort.   The nurse will check your surgical site for bleeding.  You will be allowed to eat as soon as your procedure has been completed.  During your designated time of bed rest, you will need to alert the nurse of any shortness of breath or increasing pain.  If you have received a lung biopsy, a second chest x-ray will be taken 3 hours after your procedure for continued monitoring of your lung. Your recovery time may range from 2-4 hours, depending on your procedure.  You may have one visitor stay with you during your recovery time.     

Post- Procedure  

You will be given instructions specific to your procedure prior to your discharge. You must have a responsible adult to drive you home if you have received any sedation for your procedure. You will not be allowed to go home in a cab or on a bus unless you have a responsible adult with you. These arrangements must be made prior to your procedure.