Table 3.
Comparison of complications and number of glomeruli for different needle diameter
| Needle Thickness | 14 Gauge | 16 Gauge | 18 Gauge | Unknown | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N total | 858 | 2146 | 4998 | 744 | 8746 |
| Percent total | 9.8 | 24.5 | 57.1 | 8.5 | 100 |
| Percent (N) complicationsa | 2.6 (22) | 2.0 (43)b | 3.0 (151) | 2.3 (17) | 2.7 (233) |
| Percent (N) major complicationsc | 0.6 (5) | 1.2 (25) | 0.9 (46) | 0.8 (6) | 0.9 (82) |
| Percent (N) gross hematuria | 2.2 (19) | 1.0 (22)d | 2.4 (118) | 1.6 (12) | 2.0 (171) |
| Percent (N) blood transfusions | 0.2 (2) | 1.1 (23) | 0.9 (43) | 0.7 (5) | 0.8 (73) |
| Percent (N) surgery/angiographic embolization | 0.4 (3) | 0.2 (5) | 0.1 (7) | 0.3 (2) | 0.2 (17) |
| Percent representative tissue | 94.6 | 93.5 | 94.5 | 94.9 | 94.3 |
| Median number of glomeruli (range) | 12 (0–86)d | 12 (0–61)d | 9 (0–76) | 11 (0–69)d | 10 (0–86) |
a
Complications were gross hematuria, blood transfusions, and/or surgery/arterial embolization.
b
P<0.05 (P value compared with 18-gauge needle).
c
Major complications were blood transfusions and/or surgery/arterial embolization.
d
P<0.001 (P value compared with 18-gauge needle).