[Obliteration of esophageal varices by percutaneous puncture of the left portal branch under "real time" ultrasonography (author's transl)].

Catheterization of the portal system by transhepatic percutaneous puncture may be difficult when atrophy of the liver, severe ascites, or thrombosis of the intrahepatic portal branches exists. It could be useful, in these cases, to employ "real time" ultrasonography to assist puncture of an intrahepatic portal branch. A case is reported in which this method was used to obtain percutaneous puncture of a left portal branch during obliteration of esophageal varices.