2019 Volume 33 Issue 4 Pages 403-408
Hepatic compartment syndrome (HCS) is a rare complication of liver subcapsular hematoma leading to hepatic ischemia. Early decompression of hematoma is recommended to reduce the risk of hepatic failure. We present two cases of HCS secondary to blunt trauma, which resolved spontaneously. A 19-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man presented with liver subcapsular hematoma. In both cases, marked deterioration of liver function was observed a few days after the trauma, and the reflux from the right portal vein, decrease in liver parenchymal density on CT, and high serum LDH value suggested hepatic circulatory disorder secondary to HCS. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was performed, and improvement of the liver function observed following intraperitoneal hemorrhage suggested spontaneous rupture of the subcapsular hematoma. TAE was effective in preventing rebleeding after the rupture. Our cases demonstrated the possibility of spontaneous resolution of HCS without hematoma drainage.