Surgical Management of Hepatic Trauma



Surgical Management of Hepatic Trauma


Walter L. Biffl

Carlton C. Barnett Jr.







PATIENT HISTORY AND PHYSICAL FINDINGS



  • Liver injuries may occur following either blunt (e.g., motor vehicle crash, fall) or penetrating (e.g., gunshot or stab wound) trauma to the abdomen.


  • The liver is one of the most commonly injured organs following blunt trauma. Impact to the lower right chest or the abdomen puts the patient at risk of liver injury. Any high-energy mechanism should raise concern of intraabdominal injury.


  • The liver, due to its large surface area, is frequently injured in penetrating abdominal or lower thoracic trauma. The path of gunshot wounds to the torso cannot be determined based on physical examination alone.








    Table 1: Grading of Liver Injuries



















































    Grade



    Injury Description


    I


    Hematoma


    Subcapsular, <10% surface area



    Laceration


    <1 cm parenchymal depth


    II


    Hematoma


    Subcapsular, 10%-50% surface area; intraparenchymal, <10 cm diameter



    Laceration


    1-3 cm parenchymal depth, <10 cm length


    III


    Hematoma


    Subcapsular, >50% surface area or expanding; intraparenchymal, >10 cm diameter or expanding, or ruptured



    Laceration


    >3 cm parenchymal depth


    IV


    Laceration


    Parenchymal disruption involving 25%-75% of hepatic lobe or 1-3 Couinaud’s segments in a single lobe


    V


    Laceration


    Parenchymal disruption involving >75% of hepatic lobe or >3 Couinaud’s segments in a single lobe



    Vascular


    Juxtahepatic venous injuries


    VI


    Vascular


    Hepatic avulsion


    Advance one grade for multiple injuries up to grade III.


    From Moore EE, Cogbill TH, Jurkovich GJ, et al. Organ injury scaling: spleen and liver (1994 Revision). J Trauma. 1995;38:323-324.



  • Abdominal pain or tenderness on examination raise concern for abdominal injury; however, patients may have severe liver injuries in the absence of pain or tenderness. Vital signs are a critical component of the assessment of trauma patients, as the decision to proceed with surgical (versus nonoperative) management is primarily based on physiologic condition of the patient. The vast majority of liver injuries are managed nonoperatively.


IMAGING AND OTHER DIAGNOSTIC STUDIES



  • Ultrasound—in particular, the focused abdominal sonographic examination for trauma (FAST)—is increasingly used as an initial triage tool in trauma patients. Following blunt trauma, the finding of free fluid in the abdomen in the presence of shock is an indication to proceed to exploratory laparotomy (LAP) without delay. The finding of hemoperitoneum on FAST exam in the absence of hemodynamic instability is not an indication for LAP; injuries to abdominal wall, omentum, or liver often stop bleeding spontaneously and do not require any interventions.


  • The FAST exam is less useful in penetrating trauma victims. Those with gunshot wounds should undergo immediate LAP. Those with stab wounds should undergo LAP if they exhibit shock, evisceration, or peritonitis. Otherwise, they should be admitted for serial clinical assessments to detect ongoing hemorrhage or hollow viscus injury.


  • Most liver injuries due to blunt trauma are diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) (FIG 1). CT is indicated in any patient with major abdominal blunt trauma mechanism, abdominal pain or tenderness, hemoperitoneum on FAST exam in a stable patient, pelvic fractures, or the inability to clinically assess the abdominal exam and the potential
    for abdominal trauma (e.g., a patient with severe traumatic brain injury following motor vehicle crash). Specific to liver laceration, the identification of intravenous contrast extravasation warrants treatment rather than observation.






    FIG 1 • CT scan image of a grade IV liver injury. Despite the extensive injury to the liver, note the relative paucity of blood surrounding the liver. This is a pitfall of FAST ultrasonography, as it detects primarily free fluid. It also speaks to the lack of sensitivity of FAST for individual organ injuries. It detects blood but not the source of the bleeding.


  • Arteriography with embolization can be selectively employed as a primary treatment or as an adjunct to surgical management of liver lacerations with arterial hemorrhage. This may be employed more frequently in centers with hybrid operating room (OR)/interventional radiology (IR) suites.


  • Cholangiography is sometimes useful to determine whether there is biliary injury and ongoing bile leak. This is generally performed later in the postinjury course. The presence of a biliary injury and bile leak generally calls for intervention either surgical or endoscopic.


  • Magnetic resonance imaging has little role in the management of liver trauma.


SURGICAL MANAGEMENT



  • Severe abdominal pain or tenderness, peritonitis, evisceration, or shock with a presumed abdominal injury warrant LAP.


  • Following stab wounds, the presence of shock, evisceration, or peritonitis is a clear indication for LAP. Gunshot wound to the abdomen, given its high association with significant injury, is an indication for LAP regardless of the initial physical findings.


Preoperative Planning



  • Prior to taking the patient to the OR, the surgeon should communicate with the OR team regarding the suspected diagnoses and planned interventions, anticipated blood loss and transfusion requirements, positioning and incisions, extent of skin preparation, the need for imaging, and any special equipment needs.


Positioning



  • The patient should be positioned supine. There is no advantage to tucking the arms. In the setting of trauma, it is best to leave both arms out to allow the anesthesiologist’s access for venous and arterial catheterization and sampling.

Jul 24, 2016 | Posted by in GENERAL SURGERY | Comments Off on Surgical Management of Hepatic Trauma

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