Safety and efficacy of outpatient biopsy in renal transplantation

Background: In many centers patients are hospitalised to perform a renal allograft biopsy. Aim: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of outpatient renal allograft biopsies. Methods: Since December 2011 we perform renal allograft biopsies as an outpatient procedure. Exclusion criteria for performing an outpatient biopsy included: 1.) anticoagulant treatment, 2.) thrombocytopenia <50,000/mm3, 3.) body mass index >35kg/m2 and 4.) uncontrolled hypertension. The number and severity of complications were compared with an historical cohort of 124 biopsies done between 2007 and 2011 when all patients were hospitalised for the procedure and with 42 patients biopsied during hospitalisation between 2011 and 2013. Results: Between 2011 and 2013, 210 (95%) out of 230 biopsies indicated in the outclinic were performed as an outpatient procedure (95%). The incidence of major complications (bleeding requiring blood transfusion and/or embolisation) was 0.8% between 2007 and 2011 and 2.4% in biopsies between 2011 and 2013 in hospitalised patients (p=0.475). No major complications were observed in the outpatient biopsy group. Minor complications (hematuria, hematoma or fistula not requiring transfusion or embolisation) were also not different between groups (3.2%, 7.1% and 2.7%; respectively). Sample size adequacy according to the Banffcriteria was not different among groups (p=0.052). Conclusion: Ambulatory renal allograft biopsy is a safe and efficient procedure.