Hemobilia in childhood.

During a 10-year period we have encountered three cases of hemobilia among children after blunt abdominal trauma. All patients had the classical symptoms with varying degrees of severity. One of the patients, a 5-year-old boy, had several episodes of severe gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain, and jaundice during a 2-month period. He was treated with selective arterial embolization of the left hepatic artery. The symptoms ceased instantly, and the patient has remained healthy during an observation period of more than 2 years. In cases of hemobilia, selective arterial embolization is a safe method with no serious complications. Arterial collaterals develop very quickly and the risk of liver dysfunction is small. We suggest that embolization of hepatic arteries may be the treatment of choice even in small children with hemobilia.