Abstract
Liver injuries represent one of the most common consequences of abdominal trauma. Management of liver trauma has evolved significantly over the last decades, with significant improvement in outcomes and a progressive shifting from operative management (OM) to non-operative management (NOM). The management decision process is based on the hemodynamic status, the anatomic grade of the injury, and associated injuries, but the ultimate key factor in driving the choice of non-operative management is the hemodynamic stability of the patient. Thanks to the aid of innovative endovascular techniques, NOM showed high success rates even in major hepatic injuries (grades IV and V, American Association of Surgery of Trauma [AAST] classification). Operative treatment remains essential in case of unstable patients. In terms of surgical management, rapid conservative surgery and damage control techniques have progressively gained consent over major, time-consuming procedures.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Richardson JD, et al. Evolution in the management of hepatic trauma: A 25-year perspective. Ann Surg. 2000;232(3):324–30. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000658-200009000-00004.
Hörer TM, et al. Endovascular Resuscitation and Trauma Management (EVTM)-Practical Aspects and Implementation. Shock. 2021;56(1S):37–41.
Zago TM, Tavares Pereira BM, Araujo Calderan TR, Godinho M, Nascimento B, Fraga GP. Nonoperative management for patients with grade IV blunt hepatic trauma. World J Emerg Surg. 2012;7(S1) https://doi.org/10.1186/1749-7922-7-s1-s8.
Van Der Wilden GM, et al. Successful nonoperative management of the most severe blunt liver injuries: A multicenter study of the Research Consortium of New England Centers for Trauma. Arch Surg. 2012;147(5):423–8. https://doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.2012.147.
Shrestha B, et al. Damage-control resuscitation increases successful nonoperative management rates and survival after severe blunt liver injury. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2015;78(2):336–41. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000000514.
Badger SA, Barclay R, Campbell P, Mole DJ, Diamond T. Management of liver trauma. World J Surg. 2009;33(12):2522–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-009-0215-z.
Moore EE, et al. Organ injury scaling: Spleen, liver, and kidney. J Trauma Inj Infect Crit Care. 1989;29(12):1664–6. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005373-198912000-00013.
Kozar RA, et al. Organ injury scaling 2018 update: Spleen, liver, and kidney. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2018;85(6):1119–22. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000002058.
Tinkoff G, et al. American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Organ Injury Scale I: Spleen, Liver, and Kidney, Validation Based on the National Trauma Data Bank. J Am Coll Surg. 2008;207(5):646–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2008.06.342.
Croce MA, et al. AAST organ injury scale: correlation of CT-graded liver injuries and operative findings. J Trauma Inj Infect Crit Care. 1991;31(6):806–12. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005373-199106000-00011.
G. C. Velmahos et al., “High success with nonoperative management of blunt hepatic trauma the liver is a sturdy organ,” 2003.
Schellenberg M, Benjamin E, Piccinini A, Inaba K, Demetriades D. Gunshot wounds to the liver: No longer a mandatory operation. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2019;87(2):350–5. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000002356.
Coccolini F, et al. WSES classification and guidelines for liver trauma. World J Emerg Surg. 2016;11(1):50. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13017-016-0105-2.
Coccolini F, et al. Liver trauma: WSES 2020 guidelines. World J Emerg Surg. 2020;15(1):35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13017-020-00302-7.
Rossaint R, et al. Management of bleeding following major trauma: an updated European guideline. Crit Care. 2010;14(2):R52. https://doi.org/10.1186/cc8943.
Coccolini F, et al. Liver trauma: WSES position paper. World J Emerg Surg. 2015;10(1):39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13017-015-0030-9.
Soffer D, et al. A prospective evaluation of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of penetrating torso injury. J Trauma Inj Infect Crit Care. 2004;56(5):953–9. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.TA.0000127806.39852.4E.
Ordoñez CA, Parra M, Holguín A, Garcia C, Guzmán-Rodríguez M, Padilla N, Caicedo Y, Orlas C, Garcia, A, Rodríguez-Holguín F, Serna J. Whole-body computed tomography is safe, effective and efficient in the severely injured hemodynamically unstable trauma patient. Colombia Médica. 2020;51(4):e-4054362. https://doi.org/10.25100/cm.v51i4.4362.
Shih HC, Wen YS, Ko TJ, Wu JK, Su CH, Lee CH. Noninvasive evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma: Prospective study using diagnostic algorithms to minimize nontherapeutic laparotomy. World J Surg. 1999;23(3):265–70. https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00013178.
Brooks A, Reilly J-J, Hope C, Navarro A, Naess PA, Gaarder C. Evolution of non-operative management of liver trauma. Trauma Surg Acute Care Open. 2020;5(1):e000551. https://doi.org/10.1136/tsaco-2020-000551.
Letoublon C, et al. Management of blunt hepatic trauma. J Visc Surg. 2016;153(4):33–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jviscsurg.2016.07.005.
Boese CK, Hackl M, Müller LP, Ruchholtz S, Frink M, Lechler P. Nonoperative management of blunt hepatic trauma: A systematic review. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2015;79(4):654–60. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000000814.
Hommes M, Navsaria PH, Schipper IB, Krige JEJ, Kahn D, Nicol AJ. Management of blunt liver trauma in 134 severely injured patients. Injury. 2015;46(5):837–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2014.11.019.
Yanar H, Ertekin C, Taviloglu K, Kabay B, Bakkaloglu H, Guloglu R. Nonoperative treatment of multiple intra-abdominal solid organ injury after blunt abdominal trauma. J Trauma Inj Infect Crit Care. 2008;64(4):943–8. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e3180342023.
Velmahos GC, et al. Nonoperative treatment of blunt injury to solid abdominal organs: A prospective study. Arch Surg. 2003;138(8):844–51. https://doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.138.8.844.
Wisner DH, et al. Management of children with solid organ injuries after blunt torso trauma. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2015;79(2):206–14. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000000731.
Lamb CM, Garner JP. Selective non-operative management of civilian gunshot wounds to the abdomen: A systematic review of the evidence. Injury. 2014;45(4):659–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2013.07.008.
Biffl WL, Leppaniemi A. Management guidelines for penetrating abdominal trauma. World J Surg. 2015;39(6):1373–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-014-2793-7.
Demetriades D, et al. Gunshot injuries to the liver: The role of selective nonoperative management. J Am Coll Surg. 1999;188(4):343–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1072-7515(98)00315-9.
Navsaria P, Nicol A, Krige J, Edu S, Chowdhury S. Selective nonoperative management of liver gunshot injuries. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2019;45(3):323–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-018-0913-z.
Demetriades D, et al. Selective nonoperative management of penetrating abdominal solid organ injuries. Ann Surg. 2006;244(4):620–8. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.sla.0000237743.22633.01.
Bruns BR, Kozar RA. Liver and biliary trauma. In: Moore E, Feliciano DV, Mattox KL, editors. Trauma. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2017. p. 551–74.
Ortega AE, Tang E, Froes ET, Asensio JA, Katkhouda N, Demetriades D. Laparoscopic evaluation of penetrating thoracoabdominal traumatic injuries. Surg Endosc. 1996;10(1):19–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004649910003.
O’Malley E, Boyle E, O’Callaghan A, Coffey JC, Walsh SR. Role of laparoscopy in penetrating abdominal trauma: A systematic review. World J Surg. 2013;37(1):113–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-012-1790-y.
Fabiani P, et al. Diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy for stab wounds of the anterior abdomen. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech Part A. 2003;13(5):309–12. https://doi.org/10.1089/109264203769681682.
Kozar RA, et al. Western trauma association/critical decisions in trauma: Operative management of adult blunt hepatic trauma. J Trauma Inj Infect Crit Care. 2011;71(1):1–5. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318220b192.
Inaba K, Vogt KN. Liver trauma. In: Demetriades D, Inaba K, Velmahos GC, editors. Atlas of surgical techniques in trauma. New York: Cambridge University Press; 2015. p. 198–208.
Matsushima K, et al. Adjunctive use of hepatic angioembolization following hemorrhage control laparotomy. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2020;88(5):636–43. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000002591.
Peitzman AB, Marsh JW. Advanced operative techniques in the management of complex liver injury. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;73(3):765–70. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318265cef5.
Harrell DJ, Vitale GC, Larson GM. Selective role for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in abdominal trauma. Surg Endosc. 1998;12(5):400–4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004649900690.
Carrillo EH, Reed DN, Gordon L, Spain DA, Richardson JD. Delayed laparoscopy facilitates the management of biliary peritonitis in patients with complex liver injuries. Surg Endosc. 2001;15(3):319–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004640000300.
Carrillo EH, et al. Interventional techniques are useful adjuncts in nonoperative management of hepatic injuries. J Trauma Inj Infect Crit Care. 1999;46(4):619–24. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005373-199904000-00010.
Kozar RA, et al. Risk factors for hepatic morbidity following nonoperative management: Multicenter study. Arch Surg. 2006;141(5):451–9. https://doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.141.5.451.
London JA, Parry L, Galante J, Battistella F. Safety of Early Mobilization of Patients With Blunt Solid Organ Injuries. Arch Surg. 2008;143(10):972–6.
Rostas JW, et al. The safety of low molecular-weight heparin after blunt liver and spleen injuries. Am J Surg. 2015;210(1):31–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.08.023.
Murphy PB, et al. Very early initiation of chemical venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after blunt solid organ injury is safe. Can J Surg. 2016;59(2):118–22. https://doi.org/10.1503/cjs.010815.
Further Reading
Coccolini F, et al. Liver trauma: WSES 2020 guidelines. World J Emerg Surg. 2020;15(1):35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13017-020-00302-7.
Hörer TM, et al. Endovascular resuscitation and trauma management (EVTM)-practical aspects and implementation. Shock. 2021;56(1S):37–41.
Inaba K, Vogt KN. Liver trauma. In: Demetriades D, Inaba K, Velmahos GC, editors. Atlas of surgical techniques in trauma. New York: Cambridge University Press; 2015. p. 198–208.
Letoublon C, et al. Management of blunt hepatic trauma. J Visc Surg. 2016;153(4):33–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jviscsurg.2016.07.005.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Coccolini, F., Cremonini, C., Chiarugi, M. (2023). Liver Trauma. In: Coccolini, F., Catena, F. (eds) Textbook of Emergency General Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22599-4_95
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22599-4_95
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-22598-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-22599-4
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)