Liver biopsy

I spent 4 hours yesterday at the hospital taking care of all the pre registration requirements for surgery. They took blood, did an EKG, chest X-ray, and an ultrasound on my veins. The nurse handed me the paperwork to sign for my surgery, Roux-En-Y with possible hernia repair and liver biopsy. Wait a minute!!! Liver biopsy??? Why a liver biopsy? What's wrong with my liver? The nurse took the papers & told me I can sign them later. I see my surgeon on the 17th. I plan on asking a lot of questions the first being what's up with the liver biopsy!!

It's standard. They only do the biopsy if your liver looks unhealthy. Most severely obese people have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. That is why they include it. My form also included possible gallbladder removal, but I just had an ultrasound that said my gallbladder is fine.

Thank you, it makes me feel better knowing it's standard procedure. I plan on asking my surgeon about my gallbladder also. 

I've NEVER heard of a liver biopsy being "standard"!  That's a big dang deal!!  Why were they doing a vein study??  I had fatty liver at one point, but it resolved itself with diet and NO biopsy required. My pcp (at the time) did ask if I "wanted a biopsy"!!  I declined. Duh!!

I'm not sure exactly why the did the vein ultrasound. I do have heart disease with a stent in my right artery. 

Including it on the consent form is standard. They only do it if they see a reason for it. There is a standard set of procedures that they list on the consent form, but that doesn't mean that everyone has the procedures. It's in case they see a reason to do it during the surgery.

It's standard at any Bariatric Center of Excellence.  It's extremely intelligent to take this biopsy while they're already in there -- obese people often have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and this is the best way to know the extent, if any.  I had no symptoms and wouldn't have ever know I had minor liver damage had it not been done.  It reinforced the wisdom of my WLS 

Riverside surgical is a Bariatric Center of Excellence!! My insurance requires it. They have been very thorough with all the tests & studies. I feel much better now knowing this!! Thank you. 

I am very glad. 

Have confidence in your surgeon -- he wants you to succeed, too.  It makes him look good!

My surgery was at a bariatric COE as well (John Muir in Northern California), and I also had to sign consent for a livery biopsy, hernia repair (should I need it) and my WLS.  I think the biopsy inclusion is pretty standard. My surgeon did the biopsy and I had fatty liver.  I have no idea what that means and haven't spent too much time worrying about it because it will likely resolve itself with proper diet and exercise.  I wouldn't worry too much about it.