Arterial embolization in the treatment of severe blunt hepatic trauma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The Authors stress the role of arterial embolization in the treatment of severe blunt hepatic trauma, with stable hemodynamic conditions, but with continuous bleeding, demonstrated by computed tomography scan.

METHODOLOGY

All patients with hepatic blunt trauma were evaluated with hemodynamic and radiological follow-up. When computed tomography scan showed continuous bleeding, arterial embolization was performed.

RESULTS

Arterial embolization was performed on 9 patients, 8 cases successfully. Only one patient required surgical treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that arterial embolization is useful and effective in the treatment of severe blunt hepatic trauma when, in spite of stable hemodynamic state, computed tomography scan shows persistent bleeding.