[Risk-benefit relation of liver biopsy in unclear jaundice]

On the basis of an analysis of 125 liver biopsies in cases of unclear jaundice (mean bilirubin level 96 mumol/l, mean level of AP 1,78 mumol/l X s, of gamma GT 8,48 mumol/l X s, biopsy on an average on the seventh day of jaundice) the relation of risk and benefit of a liver biopsy is assessed. The benefit of the intervention being carried out with small expenditure of material and time and with minimal stress for the patients consists above all in the praeoperative exclusion of hepatitis and in the proof of cholestatic liver parenchyma diseases, which should not be operated on. In contrast to other authors no increased risk of the percutaneous liver biopsy during the first 10 (-14) days of jaundice (independent of the level of biochemical parameters of cholestasis) was stated (no biliary peritonitis, lethality rate 0%). The modern procedures of direct cholangiography are not seen as competing methods of examination but as such complementing each other with the liver biopsy.