Inferior vena cava thrombosis (IVCT) caused by liver injury is a rare and challenging condition. A 32-year-old man sustained a severe liver injury in a traffic accident. Emergent thromboembolic procedure for the affected hepatic arteries was performed for hemostasis, resulting in hemodynamic stabilization of the patient. One month later, however, computed tomography (CT) showed liver congestion caused by IVCT from the suprahepatic IVC to the bilateral common iliac veins. As liver function deteriorated quickly despite heparin administration, surgical thrombectomy was performed under hypothermic circulatory arrest through sternotomy and laparotomy. After this operation, the liver was decongested and its function improved rapidly.
Keywords: inferior vena cava; liver injury; thrombectomy.