Ultrasound-Guided Plugged Percutaneous Liver Biopsy in Patients with a High Risk of Bleeding in An Under-Resourced Community

Abstract

Background: The liver biopsy is the traditional gold standard for assessing liver diseases. Bleeding is the most feared complication with transcutaneous liver biopsy, with major bleed occurring in 0.8 % - 2%. Transcutaneous liver biopsy should be avoided in patients with a high risk of bleeding and those with moderate to severe ascites. Transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) is recommended in high-risk cases; however, the procedure is expensive, technically demanding, and is not routinely available in most centers; moreover, TJLB has limitations in the focal lesion.