Prophylactic Intravenous Access: Is It Necessary for Renal Transplant Biopsies?

• Published in: Current problems in diagnostic radiology 2021-03, Vol.50 (2), p.156-158
• Main Authors: Lewis, Jacob I., Patel, Neema J., Williams, Eric A., Bowman, Andrew W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0363-0188; 1535-6302
• DOI: 10.1067/j.cpradiol.2019.09.003

Percutaneous renal transplant biopsies have long been a safe and effective procedure with bleeding being the most common significant complication. Only a few studies, however, have addressed the need for intravenous access prior to the procedure. We postulate that the number of patients requiring intravenous resuscitation after a routine renal transplant biopsy is sufficiently low enough to prove that eliminating pre-procedural peripheral IV placement will have no negative impact on patient safety and could improve departmental efficiency. This is a retrospective analysis of complications that occurred in patients who underwent routine percutaneous renal transplant biopsies at an academic center. Patients were divided into two groups: the IV cohort that had peripheral IV access placed before the procedure (n=1318) and the no-IV cohort that did not (n=492). This is a retrospective analysis of complications that occurred in patients who underwent routine percutaneous renal transplant biopsies at an academic center. Patients were divided into two groups: the IV cohort that had peripheral IV access placed before the procedure (n=1318) and the no-IV cohort that did not (n=492). Placement of prophylactic peripheral IV access in patients undergoing routine renal transplant biopsies does not significantly impact the rate of biopsy complications