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Routine Liver Biopsy During Bariatric Surgery: an Analysis of Evidence Base

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Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis are common in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis can progress to cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. Non-invasive methods of diagnosing non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis are not as accurate as liver biopsy, and bariatric surgery presents a unique opportunity to carry out a simultaneous liver biopsy. Routine liver biopsy can help early and accurate diagnosis of obesity-associated liver conditions. This has led some surgeons to argue for routine liver biopsy at the time of bariatric surgery. However, most bariatric surgeons remain unconvinced and liver biopsy is currently not routine practice with bariatric surgery. This review examines published scientific literature to ascertain the usefulness of routine liver biopsy at the time of bariatric surgery.

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Abbreviations

NAFLD:

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

NASH:

Non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis

HCC:

Hepato-cellular carcinoma

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Author Contribution

KM conceived the idea for the topic. KM and CP independently collected information and analysed it. All authors participated in departmental discussion on the topic and manuscript writing. All authors have seen the final version and approve of it.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bariatric Unit, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, SR4 7TP, UK

    Kamal K. Mahawar, Chetan Parmar, Yitka Graham, Ayman Abouleid, William R. J. Carr, Neil Jennings, Norbert Schroeder & Peter K. Small

  2. Department of Pharmacy, Health and Well-being, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, SR1 3SD, UK

    Yitka Graham

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  1. Kamal K. Mahawar
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  2. Chetan Parmar
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  3. Yitka Graham
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Correspondence to Kamal K. Mahawar.

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Mahawar, K.K., Parmar, C., Graham, Y. et al. Routine Liver Biopsy During Bariatric Surgery: an Analysis of Evidence Base. OBES SURG 26, 177–181 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-015-1916-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-015-1916-z

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