High-resolution sonographic guidance for transjugular liver biopsy.

A prospective randomized study was performed to compare conventional right internal jugular vein catheterization technique with high-resolution sonographically guided catheterization for transjugular liver biopsy. Forty-seven patients were assigned to undergo either conventional or high-resolution sonographically guided right internal jugular vein catheterization for transjugular liver biopsy. Sonographic guidance was significantly better than conventional guidance, reducing the number of failed catheterizations, from 22% (5 of 23) to 0% (0 of 24) (p < .05). Sonography also reduced the mean number (+/- SD) of passes required to catheterize the vein from 4.21 +/- 1.53 to 1.54 +/- 0.66 (p < .001) and was successful in 100% (5 of 5) of patients in whom conventional catheterization failed. High-resolution sonographic guidance is strongly recommended for transjugular liver biopsy in patients at high risk for bleeding.