[Blind liver puncture or laparoscopy?].

The discussions as to the priority of laparoscopy or blind liver puncture have not ended in a "either-or" decision, but, rather, have come out unequivocally in favour of both techniques. The procedure of blind liver puncture is suitable for the diagnosis and follow-up of diffuse diseases of the liver (fatty liver, acute hepatitis, with restriction, chronic persistent and chronic aggressive hepatitis, pre-alcoholic liver cirrhois damage). Laparoscopy is employed primarily in cases with equivocal liver palpation findings, for the initial diagnosis of chronic inflammatory, focal and tumorous diseases of the liver. For both techniques, there needs to be a careful weighing up of indications and contraindications, risks and limitations and they should not be carried out by any and every ward physician.