Liver Injury After Blunt Abdominal Trauma in Children

• Published in: Nihon Fukubu Kyukyu Igakkai Zasshi (Journal of Abdominal Emergency Medicine) Vol. 33; no. 7; pp. 1089 - 1092
• Main Authors: Hashizume, Naoki, Tsuru, Tomomitsu, Hanashiro, Kiyotoshi, Higashidate, Naruki, Tanaka, Hiroaki, Asakawa, Takahiro, Tamehiro, Kazuhito
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society for Abdominal Emergency Medicine 30.11.2013
• ISSN: 1340-2242; 1882-4781
• DOI: 10.11231/jaem.33.1089

[Introduction] Pediatric patients with liver injury after blunt abdominal trauma at our institute were clinically investigated and assessed. [Subjects and methods] An investigation was carried out regarding 15-year-old or younger patients with liver injury among patients with an average age of 15.5 yr that were transported to the ER due to blunt abdominal trauma. [Results] There were 39 cases of liver injury. Regarding the severity, there were 30 cases of subcapsular injuries, 2 cases of superficial injuries, and 7 cases of severe injuries. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was carried out on 9 cases (5 cases of extravasation, 3 cases of pseudoaneurysm, 1 case of arteriovenous fistula), with hemostasis successful in all cases, leading to conservative therapy being carried out. Delayed intraperitoneal bleeding was observed in 1 case during conservative therapy, however there were no cases requiring surgery or cases of death due to liver damage. [Conclusion] Stable non-surgical management was possible by carrying out TAE on liver trauma-associated vascular injuries.