Intrahepatic hematoma following needle biopsy of liver graft: Incidence and management

Percutaneous liver biopsy is a frequently used technique to diagnose hepatic allograft dysfunction after liver transplantation. One hundred and twenty-four grafts were biopsied under ultrasound control with 5 patients developing hepatic hematomas, 3 subcapsular and intrahepatic, 1 only subcapsular and 1 only intrahepatic. All were managed by conservative treatment and followed by ultrasound and computed tomography scanning without rupture, infection or deleterious effect on the liver allograft. Surgical or radiological drainage in this group of patients was not necessary.