Alternative to liver biopsy first time in Nepal

KATHMANDU, JUL 01 -

Patients with liver ailments now have an alternative to liver biopsy, a long and painful process to know the state of liver stiffness, as the Centre for Liver Disease has introduced FibroScan machine for the first time in Nepal. This technology helps physicians measure the stiffness of liver without any painful procedure.

Doctor duo of Bir Hospital— Dr Sudhamshu KC and Dr Dilip Sharma—along with National Reference Laboratory has brought home this sophisticated medical facility.

“Until now the stiffness of liver is measured through liver biopsy and histopathological examination. Liver biopsy is a painful procedure and requires admission. Moreover, it carries a risk of bleeding and even death, though around 1 percent, if carried

out by untrained hands,” said Dr KC. The FibroScan machine makes the test painless and requires only about 5-10 minutes for it to complete with immediate reports, he said.

Dr Sharma also said its cost is less than the biopsy test. It costs around Rs 10,000 for biopsy, while FibroScan test can be done at Rs 7,500, he said, adding that this test will also help assess treatment of liver disease, especially hepatitis C and B. “The measurement of the stiffness in liver and its analysis can prevent people from having their liver permanently damaged, which if happens would cost around Rs 60 million for transplant,” said Dr Sharma said.

He added that the diagnosis, which has a high chance of missing while undergoing ultrasound, can now be easily made by FibroScan.

Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/07/01/capital/alternative-to-liver-biopsy-first-time-in-nepal/356414/