[Transvenous hepatic biopsy in patients with blood coagulation disorders]

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.