Subcapsular liver haematoma after cardiopulmonary resuscitation by untrained personnel.
Although early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is associated with increased survival of sudden cardiac arrest victims, it may also result in miscellaneous injuries. A 25-year-old inebriated man rescued from drowning in a swimming pool was apnoeic and pulseless after being pulled out of the water. Successful CPR was provided by untrained bystanders, including abdominal thrusts thought to remove water from the airways and chest compressions to provide haemodynamic support. As the patient progressively improved during his subsequent hospital stay, he complained of right upper abdominal and thoracic pain. A computed tomographic scan showed a 11 cm subcapsular haematoma contiguous to the right hepatic lobe. A favourable outcome was obtained after conservative, non-operative treatment. Subcapsular haematoma of the liver is a potentially life threatening complication that warrants consideration in survivors of cardiac arrest who have received closed chest compression and/or abdominal thrusts.
Monsuez
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Department of Internal Medicine, AP-HP, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Université Paris-Sud 11, Faculté de Médecine de Bicêtre, F-94804 Villejuif Cedex, France. jean-jacques.monsuez@rmb.aphp.fr
Charniot
Jean-Christophe
JC
Veilhan
Luc Antoine
LA
Mougué
Ferdinand
F
Bellin
Marie-France
MF
Boissonnas
Alain
A
D000328:Adult; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004332:Drowning / Q000628:therapy*; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D014838:Volunteers