An unusual case of traumatic haemobilia

A case of traumatic haemobilia is presented. It is unusual in that it followed a minor penetrating injury with an ice pick, an instrument only slightly larger than a liver biopsy needle. Furthermore the precipitating cause for urgent surgery was an acute cholecystitis, rather than massive haemorrhage. Bleeding ceased after treatment for the infecting organisms, isolated from the gall bladder, following on cholecystectomy and biliary drainage (AU)