Introduction:
Post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the hepatic artery is a rare complication of abdominal injury. Prompt intervention is essential to avoid a life-threatening hemorrhage. We report two complicated cases of intrahepatic pseudoaneurysm (IHPA).
Presentation of cases:
Case 1: A victim of a bomb blast with thoracoabdominal injury presented in hypovolemic shock. Emergency laparotomy revealed actively bleeding liver lacerations, which had been successfully controlled with perihepatic packing. After 72 h, computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen showed a 3 cm × 1.8 cm IHPA of the left hepatic artery, which was treated with endovascular microcoils embolization. Postoperatively, the patient developed bile leakage and biliopleural fistula, which were managed conservatively. Case 2: A patient suffered a shotgun injury to the abdomen. In laparotomy, a grade III liver laceration was noted. The bleeding was controlled with perihepatic packing. The packs were removed 48 h later. Ten days postoperatively, the patient developed severe abdominal pain with shock, CT of the abdomen showed; 24 cm × 13 cm × 8 cm subcapsular liver hematoma. Superselective hepatic angiography showed a 1-cm IHPA of the right hepatic artery. The entry and exit points of the aneurysm were successfully embolized with two microcoils. No complications related to angioembolizaion were encountered.
Discussion:
IHPA following bomb blast and shotgun injury is rarely reported. Timely diagnosis is crucial.
Conclusion:
We advise to keep in mind the possibility of IHPA, when dealing with high-grade liver injury. CT is recommended before removal of perihepatic packs, as it may pick up a life-threatening pseudoaneurysm.