Case Reports in Emergency Medicine (Jan 2011)

Hepatothorax: A Rare Outcome of High-Speed Trauma

  • Matthew Porcelli,
  • Oksana Prychyna,
  • Andrew Rosenthal,
  • Joseph DeCostanza

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/905641
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2011

Abstract

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Diaphragmatic ruptures are the result of severe blunt trauma or penetrating trauma. Motor vehicle crashes are a common mechanism associated with blunt diaphragmatic rupture (BDR). Incorporating diagnostic tools and laparotomy assist in the diagnosis and treatment of BDR. However, diagnosing BDR can be a challenge for practitioners. Early diagnosis and treatment improve the patient's outcomes. This paper details the events of a patient received in a level I trauma unit.