Contained hepatic vascular injuries following liver trauma: a retrospective monocentric study and review of the literature.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Over the past thirty years, there has been a major shift in the management of liver trauma. Contained hepatic vascular injuries (CHVI), including pseudoaneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas, are often feared because of the risk of secondary hemorrhage. However, little is known about CHVI. There are no guidelines for their management. Our aim was to validate the risk factors for CHVI, to identify the associated morbidities, and to establish a management protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 318 liver trauma cases from a level 1 trauma center over the past 15 years, comparing the presence or absence of CHVI. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted. Treatment used to manage CHVI was also compared. RESULTS: Liver trauma with the following characteristics, A.A.S.T. grade ≥III, bilateral injuries, and laceration-type lesions, were associated with a higher risk of CHVI. Grade A.A.S.T. ≥III and bilateral injuries were confirmed in a multivariable study with odds ratios as high as 4.0 and 3.5, respectively. CHVI was associated with significantly more delayed bleeding and controlled computed tomography. After analyzing the non-interventional management of CHVI less than two centimeters, a management algorithm is proposed. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective unicentric study and literature review provide additional insight into the patient profile at risk for developing CHVI, its associated morbidity, and its management.