Traumatic laceration of the portal vein

CJEM. 2016 Jul;18(4):306-8. doi: 10.1017/cem.2015.12. Epub 2015 Jun 19.

Abstract

Despite its relatively protected position, the liver is the most frequently injured solid intra-abdominal organ. 1 Most liver injuries can be managed conservatively, but about 5% to 10% require urgent laparotomy, usually when the mechanism of injury involves a vehicle accident and hemodynamic instability persists, in spite of 40 mL/kg of blood transfusion. 2 , 3 In particular, grades IV and V liver injuries may pose a challenge to the surgeon trying to control hemorrhage, the leading cause of mortality. 4 Traumatic injuries to the portal vein are rare but devastating. The mortality rate for portal vein injury ranges from 50% to 70%. A recent study of portal triad injuries has highighted the higher mortality rates associated with combination injuries involving multiple portal triad components, especially those that include portal vein injury. 5 This case study describes a unique case of relatively minor trauma in a child resulting in portal triad injury, sudden demise, and surgical repair.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Injuries / diagnostic imaging*
  • Abdominal Injuries / surgery
  • Bicycling / injuries*
  • Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic / diagnostic imaging
  • Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic / injuries
  • Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic / surgery
  • Blood Transfusion / methods
  • Child
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glasgow Coma Scale
  • Humans
  • Injury Severity Score
  • Lacerations / diagnostic imaging
  • Lacerations / surgery
  • Laparotomy / methods
  • Liver / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver / injuries*
  • Liver / surgery
  • Male
  • Multiple Trauma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Multiple Trauma / surgery
  • Portal Vein / diagnostic imaging
  • Portal Vein / injuries*
  • Portal Vein / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler
  • Vascular Surgical Procedures / methods