Surgery for Liver Trauma

Abstract

Hepatic injuries are found in 30 per cent of patients undergoing operation after penetrating abdominal wounds and in 15 to 20 per cent of patients undergoing operation after blunt trauma. Signs of blood loss, peritonitis, or peritoneal traverse by a missile prompt early operation in many patients. Stable patients who have suffered stab wounds in proximity to the liver may be safely evaluated by diagnostic peritoneal lavage, whereas CT evaluation is now used in stable patients suffering blunt trauma that may involve the liver. "Simple" techniques of repair such as suture hepatorrhaphy, application of topical agents, or application of fibrin glue suffice in 60 per cent (blunt trauma) to 90 per cent (penetrating trauma) of patients with hepatic injuries. The remainder require "advanced" techniques of repair such as extensive hepatorrhaphy, hepatotomy with selective vascular ligation, resectional debridement with selective vascular ligation, lobectomy or segmentectomy, selective hepatic artery ligation, or perihepatic packing. Using the techniques described, the mortality rate for all patients with hepatic injuries will be approximately 10 per cent, with 75 to 80 per cent of all deaths occurring in the perioperative period from shock or transfusion-related coagulopathies. The most common major complications in survivors are perihepatic abscesses and postoperative hemorrhage, both of which are frequently treated by the interventional radiologist.