Blunt traumatic laceration of the suprahepatic inferior vena cava presenting as abdominal pain and shock in a child: a case report.

OBJECTIVE

Report of management of blunt, intrapericardial inferior vena caval injury.

DESIGN, MATERIALS AND METHODS: A seven-year-old boy, after falling from the back of a motorcycle, had a laceration of the intrapericardial, inferior vena cava with cardiac tamponade. He presented with hypotension and a distended abdomen. There was no evidence of thoracic trauma.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Laparotomy demonstrated a tensely distended liver without intra-abdominal bleeding. Median sternotomy revealed a vena caval laceration, which was repaired.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing abdominal distention with an enlarging liver suggests traumatic laceration to the suprahepatic vena cava. Vascular repair is best accomplished by median sternotomy.