Liver Injury After Blunt Abdominal Trauma in Children

Abstract

[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.