Treatment of haemobilia by selective arterial embolisation.
We report a patient in whom haemobilia occurred after percutaneous liver biopsy. Selective hepatic arteriography showed a fistula between hepatic artery and portal venous system, with appearance of contrast in the biliary tract. Intrahepatic bleeding was stopped by arterial embolisation with a mixture of gelatine foam and sterile dura mater. Cholecytectomy was subsequently required as a haemocholecyst developed. The technique of arteriography and embolisation allows accurate localisation of intrahepatic bleeding sites and may avoid the need for a direct surgical approach to this problem.
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D006431:Hemobilia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography