Discharge Instructions for Liver Biopsy

Home care

Follow your healthcare team's instructions. These may include:: 

• Don't drive until your healthcare team says you can.  

• Remove the bandage covering the biopsy site  24 to 48 hours after the procedure. Follow your provider's instructions.

• Rest for 6 hours and take it easy when you arrive home.

• Don’t shower until advised. This may be up to 24 hours after the biopsy. You may wash yourself with a sponge or washcloth. When you are able to shower, don’t scrub the site. Gently wash the area and pat it dry. Don't soak in a bathtub until the incision is healed.

• Don’t lift anything heavier than  10 pounds for up to 1 week after the procedure, or as advised by your healthcare provider.

• Don't do strenuous activities or exercises for up to 1 week after the procedure.

• Ask your healthcare provider when you can return to work.

• Ask your provider when it's safe to start taking aspirin or blood thinners if you take these medicines.

Follow-up care

Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff.

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider immediately if you have any of the following:

• Bleeding from the biopsy site

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Sudden or increased shortness of breath

• Sudden chest pain

• Fever of  100.4°F ( 38.0°C) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider

• Shaking chills

• Yellow eyes or skin

• Increasing redness, tenderness, or swelling at the biopsy site

• Drainage from the biopsy site

• Opening of the biopsy site

• Vomiting blood

• Rectal bleeding or bloody stools

• Increasing pain, with or without activity, in the liver or belly area, or pain shooting to the right shoulder