Short-term complications for percutaneous ultrasound-guided biopsy of renal masses in adult outpatients

Background: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous kidney tumor biopsy (UGPKB) plays an important role in the diagnosis of renal tumor but there are no consensuses with respect to the length and the extend of the post-biopsy observation period. Purpose: To assess the short-term complication rate after UGPKB and to evaluate whether the onset of complications allows for the procedure to be performed in an outpatient setting with same-day discharge. Material and Methods: Between March 2012 and March 2014, a total of 287 UGPKB were performed in an outpatient setting at a Danish university referral center. All patient records were retrospectively reviewed and post-biopsy complications as well as biochemical parameters were registered. Results: The overall complication rate was 3.8% (11 patients). Major complications occurred in 1.0% of all cases (three patients); one patient with ongoing bleeding that required intervention and two patients with septicemia. Minor complications occurred in 2.8% of cases (eight patients); six patients with self-limiting gross hematuria, one patient with small asymptomatic subcapsular hematoma, and one patient with vasovagal syncope. The timing of both minor and major complication onset ranged from the time of biopsy and up to four days after discharge. Conclusion: UGPKB of indeterminate renal masses in adult patients in an outpatient setting appears to be a safe procedure with a very low rate of major complications. Same-day discharge after renal mass biopsy seems feasible.