Arterial embolization in the treatment of severe blunt hepatic trauma.
OBJECTIVE
The Authors stress the role of arterial embolization in the treatment of severe blunt hepatic trauma, with stable hemodynamic conditions, but with continuous bleeding, demonstrated by computed tomography scan.


METHODS
All patients with hepatic blunt trauma were evaluated with hemodynamic and radiological follow-up. When computed tomography scan showed continuous bleeding, arterial embolization was performed.


RESULTS
Arterial embolization was performed on 9 patients, 8 cases successfully. Only one patient required surgical treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that arterial embolization is useful and effective in the treatment of severe blunt hepatic trauma when, in spite of stable hemodynamic state, computed tomography scan shows persistent bleeding.
Greco
Luigi
L
Dipartimento dell'Emergenza e Trapianti d'Organo, Università di Bari, Italy.
Francioso
Giuseppe
G
Pratichizzo
Annalisa
A
Testini
Mario
M
Impedovo
Giovanni
G
Ettorre
Giovanni Carlo
GC
D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*