Technique and results of fifty-five open renal biopsies in children.

Amodification of the Hamburger technique of renal biopsy has been used to obtain 55 biopsies in 47 high risk children. The kidney is exposed through a vertical 2 to 3 centimeter incision just caudad from the 12th rib. The speciimen is taken with a biopsy-needle under direct vision. Specimens obtained nine to 93 glomeruli suitable for examination, and all were suitable for diagnosis. There were no significant complications, and all patients had recovered completely within 24 hours.