ABSTRACT
Transjugular liver biopsy is an essential procedure in the armamentarium of the interventional
radiologist for patients who otherwise are unable to undergo percutaneous liver biopsy.
Multiple conditions exist that necessitate the transjugular approach for biopsy, including
acquired coagulopathy, congenital blood disorders, or requirement for measurements
of hepatic venous and/or wedged hepatic vein pressures. The safety and efficacy of
transjugular liver biopsy is well established, with many studies citing extremely
low rates of complication with high rates of technical success. Nonetheless, transjugular
liver biopsy is not without complications. The most often reported complication is
asymptomatic capsular perforation; however occasionally, major hemorrhagic complications
and even death have been reported. We describe two major hemorrhagic complications
that manifested several days after the procedure and required emergent intervention.
KEYWORDS
Liver - biopsy - complication - transjugular
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George E LynskeyM.D.
Department of Radiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine
3800 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC 20007