Liver haematoma in pregnancy: A rare complication of HELLP syndrome

Liver haematoma complicating pregnancy with HELLP syndrome is a rare but life-threatening condition. Diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. Here a case of liver haematoma is presented in a 29 years multigravida at 34 weeks of pregnancy. Initially hypertension was not revealed since she had presented in shock. She had presented with on and off epigastric pain for many days. In context of haemoperitoneum in ultrasound, emergency laparotomy was done and liver haematoma diagnosed intraoperatively. Haematoma was managed with packing and second look laparotomy was done to remove the packs. Haematoma gradually resolved over period of months.

Traumatic damage to the liver capsule: an unusual cause of small bowel obstruction

A 61-year-old man presented to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain. Three months prior to presentation, he had sustained blunt trauma to his right side while cycling, but had not sought medical attention. On admission, a CT scan showed small bowel obstruction (SBO) and he underwent an emergency open laparotomy. Intraoperatively, a subcapsular liver haematoma was identified, with incarcerated, necrotic small bowel within the liver capsule. The patient underwent deroofing of the haematoma with an omental patch and a small bowel resection with primary anastomosis. We believe this is the first reported case of SBO secondary to small bowel herniation into the liver capsule following trauma.

SUBCAPSULAR LIVER HEMATOMA – A COMPLICATION AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECISTECTOMY

Subcapsular liver haematoma is among the most severe complications after laparoscopic cholecistectomy, but occurs rarely. The hematoma is usually located around the right lobe of the liver (in 75% of patients). We report the case of a 71 year old patient who underwent laparoscopic cholecistectomy for acute colecistitis. Initial postoperative evolution was favorable. On postoperative day 3 patient presents intense abdominal pain and decreased hemoglobin. The CT shows subcapsular hepatic hematoma. Emergency surgery is performed for signs of hemorragic shock with evacuation of the hematoma and hemostasis. Postoperative evolution is good. There are several theories proposed for the occurance of a subcapsular hematoma of the liver after laparoscopic cholecistectomy. Among these, the presence of a hemangioma, the use of NSAIDs or low molecular weight heparin. No clear mecanism is known and the only clinical sign can be abdominal pain. This case reminds us that we must take abdominal pain seriously after cholecystectomy in order to identify severe complications that can occur, such as hepatic subcapsular hematoma.

Liver haematoma as a presentation of peliosis hepatis

Peliosis hepatis (PH) is an uncommon, benign hepatic vascular condition involving liver lesions consisting of dilated sinusoidal spaces that ultimately lead to numerous blood-filled cavities within the liver parenchyma. We detail the case of a 62-year-old woman who presented with a large hepatic haematoma resulting from intracystic haemorrhage. She was subsequently diagnosed with PH via arteriogram. Her symptoms were successfully treated surgically with open fenestration. Patient’s postoperative course was unremarkable, with no recurrence of symptoms to date.