Transvenous hepatic biopsy in patients with blood coagulation disorders Biopsia hepatica transvenosa en pacientes con defectos de la coagulacion sanguinea.

Abstract

Severe clotting defects represent the main contraindication to percutaneous liver biopsy. A transvenous liver puncture technique has been developed for patients suffering from blood coagulation disorders. This approach was attempted in 17 of 148 consecutive patients (12%) in whom a needle liver biopsy was indicated. Hepatic tissue samplings were successfully obtained in 16 subjects. The mean size of the specimens was 7 mm. The clinical diagnosis or therapy were modified in 7 patients when the histopathology report was available. No complications related to the procedure occurred. Our early experience suggests that transvenous liver biopsy is indicated in one/ninth of cases in whom hepatic tissue sample is required for diagnosis. This technique is safe, and it has a high success rate to provide liver tissue samples.