Multiple liver perforations: complication of an outpatient liposuction procedure

Julian Pohlan, MD; Hannah Miller; Markus H. Lerchbaumer, MD; Felix Krenzien, MD; Christian Benzing, MD; Martina T. Mogl, MD; Torsten Diekhoff, MD

Radiology Case Reports (Apr 2021)

Multiple liver perforations: complication of an outpatient liposuction procedure

Julian Pohlan, MD,
Hannah Miller,
Markus H. Lerchbaumer, MD,
Felix Krenzien, MD,
Christian Benzing, MD,
Martina T. Mogl, MD,
Torsten Diekhoff, MD

Affiliations

Julian Pohlan, MD: Department of Radiology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Germany; Corresponding author.
Hannah Miller: Surgical Department, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité Universitaetsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
Markus H. Lerchbaumer, MD: Department of Radiology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Germany
Felix Krenzien, MD: Surgical Department, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité Universitaetsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
Christian Benzing, MD: Surgical Department, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité Universitaetsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
Martina T. Mogl, MD: Surgical Department, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité Universitaetsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
Torsten Diekhoff, MD: Department of Radiology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Germany

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 16, no. 4
pp. 906 – 910

Abstract

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We report on a 29-year-old woman who presented with abdominal right upper quadrant pain after an outpatient liposuction procedure. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan revealed 4 hepatic perforation tracts with subcapsular liver hematoma and hematoperitoneum. The patient was treated by intravenous tranexamic acid and isotonic fluids and monitored on an intensive care unit. No intervention or surgery was necessary during her hospital stay. Follow-up imaging after 3 days using contrast-enhanced ultrasound still showed the perforation tracts in the liver but no expansion of subcapsular hematoma. After 7 days, the patient was discharged home with stable hemoglobin and reduced pain. Liver perforation is a rare complication of liposuction procedures. In patients with abdominal pain after liposuction, contrast-enhanced imaging studies should be performed to identify and characterize solid organ injury. Teams with expertise in angiography and visceral surgery need to be on standby.

Published in Radiology Case Reports

ISSN: 1930-0433 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General): Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/radiology-case-reports

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