Post-traumatic intrahepatic pseudoaneurysm: A case of successful conservative treatment

Abstract

Although post-traumatic intrahepatic pseudoaneurysms are rare in adults and even more uncommon in children, this serious complication can result in life-threatening bleeding. Most case studies have recommended surgical or endovascular interventions for preventing rupture or managing the bleeding from a ruptured intrahepatic pseudoaneurysm. Some studies also reported pseudoaneurysms could resolve without intervention and advised conservative therapy. In this case study, we describe a 19-month-old boy diagnosed with an intrahepatic pseudoaneurysm, upper gastrointestinal bleeding from the biliary tract, and hematoma infection. The patient received successful conservative treatment. After 36 days, the patient was discharged without signs of gastrointestinal bleeding and the steady shrinkage of the hematoma surrounding the pseudoaneurysm. The pseudoaneurysm and hematoma vanished at follow-up 18 months after the trauma. Conservative treatment may be considered a viable option, particularly for cases of post-traumatic intrahepatic pseudoaneurysms in children.

Keywords

• Hepatic trauma
• Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm
• Hemobilia