Abstract
Background: Bleeding within the biliary tree, called hemobilia, is a rare complication
after blunt hepatic trauma. Objectives: To report on a patient who developed hemobilia
1 month after a blunt abdominal injury and to discuss the diagnosis and treatment
of hemobilia. Case report: A 17-year-old boy presented with upper gastrointestinal
bleeding caused by hemobilia 1 month after a blunt liver injury. Angiography revealed
a pseudoaneurysm of the right hepatic artery, which was successfully treated with
embolization. Conclusions: The diagnosis of hemobilia first requires consideration
of the diagnosis, particularly in patients with previous abdominal trauma. Hemobilia
should be included in the differential diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
Investigations of choice include computed tomography scan followed by angiography.
During angiography, treatment can be done by endovascular embolization.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 22, 2009
Accepted:
August 6,
2008
Received in revised form:
June 24,
2008
Received:
April 25,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
