2012 Volume 32 Issue 1 Pages 13-18
Of the patients with a blunt liver injury who were admitted to our hospital over a period of 2 years and 5 months, the subjects enrolled in the present study were 15 patients diagnosed with CT as having liver injury, and who underwent DIC-CT intended to diagnose intrahepatic biliary injury (IHBI) in its early stages. These 15 patients included 11 with a type IIIb injury and 4 with a type Ib injury. All of 5 patients with the type IIIb injury who underwent TAE were found to have some signs of IHBI on DIC-CT. Of these patients, 2 were found to have extrahepatic leakage and underwent local drainage; 1 also underwent ENBD and was discharged. Three patients were not found to have extrahepatic leakage even though they were found to have signs of IHBI; the 3 underwent conservative therapy with no other care and had a satisfactory course. In 6 patients with a type IIIb injury and without TAE, only 1 patient was found to have IHBI, but without extrahepatic leakage. Comparison of two groups, with or without TAE, in type IIIb injury, the former had a higher ISS and higher incidence of IHBI on DIC-CT. No TAE was needed and no sign of IHBI was found in type Ib injury patients. DIC-CT may, in cases of severe liver injury that might require TAE, help to diagnose IHBI in its early stages. Our strategy, namely performing an early examination and drainage when the extrahepatic biliary leakage is found, seemed to be adequate.
