Liver biopsy is the gold standard method for assessment of liver fibrosis and diagnosis of different liver diseases. The most common method for liver biopsy is transdermal biopsy, which can be performed under the guide of ultrasonography (US) or blindly. The present study aimed to compare the success rate and complications of these two methods in patients undergoing liver biopsy.

This interventional study was performed on 102 patients who were candidate for liver biopsy and had no contraindications. Patients were divided in two groups randomly; one undergoing US-guided biopsy and the other undergoing blind biopsy. The patients’ demographics, indication of biopsy, and complications were collected by a checklist. Data were analyzed by using Chi-square and independent samples t tests in SPSS software version 16.

Of the 102 patients, 51 (25 men and 26 women) with the mean age of 39.69±12.93 years underwent US-guided biopsy and 51 (29 men and 26 women) with the mean age of 39.65±13.73 years underwent blind biopsy. Liver biopsy was successful in %88.2 of the participants in both groups. The most common complication was decrease in hemoglobin level, which was the same in both groups. Other complications included need to blood transfusion, platelet, or FFP, fever, and hemoptysis. There were no significant differences in complications among the 2 groups.

As blind liver biopsy does not increase the rate of complications, application of this method when there are no contraindications will decrease the cost of diagnosis and treatment.