Liver injury

This page is about traumatic liver injuries. For drug-induced liver injury, see Hepatotoxicity.

Short description: Form of trauma sustained to the liver

Liver injury

A watercolour painting of a liver with extensive rupturing caused by blunt trauma to the abdomen.
Specialty| Emergency medicine, general surgery

A liver injury, also known as liver laceration, is some form of trauma sustained to the liver. This can occur through either a blunt force such as a car accident, or a penetrating foreign object such as a knife.[1] Liver injuries constitute 5% of all traumas, making it the most common abdominal injury.[2] Generally nonoperative management and observation is all that is required for a full recovery.

## Contents

* 1 Cause
* 2 Diagnosis
* 2.1 Classification
* 3 Management
* 3.1 Surgery
* 4 History
* 5 References
* 6 Bibliography
* 7 External links

## Cause

Given its anterior position in the abdominal cavity and its large size, the liver is prone to gun shot wounds and stab wounds.[2] Its firm location under the diaphragm also makes it especially prone to shearing forces.[1] Common causes of this type of injury are blunt force mechanisms such as motor vehicle accidents, falls, and sports injuries. Typically these blunt forces dissipate through and around the structure of the liver[3] and causes irreparable damage to the internal microarchitecture of the tissue.[4] With increasing velocity of the impact, the internal damage of the liver tissue also exemplifies[clarification needed] \- even though the tissue itself is mechanically and micro-structurally isotropic.[5] A large majority of people who sustain this injury also have another accompanying injury.[1]

## Diagnosis

Grade 4 liver laceration Isoliert_intraparenchymatoese_Leberruptur_24M_-_CT_KM_-_001

Imaging, such as the use of ultrasound or a computed tomography scan, is the generally preferred way of diagnosis as it is more accurate and is sensitive to bleeding, however; due to logistics this is not always possible.[6] For a person who is hemodynamically unstable a focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) scan may take place which is used to find free floating fluid in the right upper quadrant and left lower quadrant of the abdomen. The FAST scan however may not be indicated in those who are obese and those with subcutaneous emphysema.[7] Its speed and sensitivity to injuries resulting in 400mL of free-floating fluid make it a valuable tool in the evaluation of unstable persons. Computed tomography is another diagnostic study which can be performed, but typically is only used in those who are hemodynamically stable.[7] A physical examination may be used but is typically inaccurate in blunt trauma, unlike in penetrating trauma where the trajectory the projectile took can be followed digitally.[8] A diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) may also be utilized but has limited application as it is hard to determine the origin of the bleeding.[9] A diagnostic peritoneal lavage is generally discouraged when FAST is available as it is invasive and non-specific.[7]

### Classification

Liver injuries are classified on a Roman numeral scale with I being the least severe, to VI being the most severe, according to the AAST (American Association for the Surgery of Trauma) liver injury scale.[10]

The Liver Injury Scale classification (2026 revision)[1][2][10] Grade  | Color | Subcapsular hematoma | Laceration  | Vascular injury

|
|
|
|

I  | Blue | <10% surface area | <1 cm in depth  | \-
II  | Green | 10–50% surface area | 1–3 cm  | \-
III  | Yellow | >50% or >10 cm | >3 cm  | Any injury in the presence of a liver vascular injury or active bleeding contained within liver parenchyma
IV  | Orange |  | 25–75% of a hepatic lobe  | Active bleeding extending beyond the liver parenchyma into the peritoneum
V  | Red |  | >75% of a hepatic lobe  | Juxtahepatic venous injury to include retrohepatic vena cava and central major hepatic veins
VI  | Brown  |  | Hepatic avulsion  | Complete tearing of the liver from it’s vascular supply and hepatic veins

In the case of multiple liver injuries with different grades, the overall grade should be classified by the higher grade of injury. One grade should also be added in case of multiple injuries, up to grade III. [10]

Generally, any injury ≥III requires surgery.[3][11]

Calculators have been developed that facilitate grading of liver injury based on imaging findings.[12]

## Management

The initial management of liver trauma generally follows the same procedures for all traumas with a focus on maintaining airway, breathing, and circulation. A physical examination is a cornerstone of the assessment of which there are various non-invasive means of diagnostic tools that can be utilized.[3] An invasive diagnostic peritoneal lavage can also be used to diagnose and classify the extent of the damage.[13][14] A large majority of liver injuries are minor and require only observation.[15] Generally if there is estimated to be less than 300mL of free floating fluid, no injury to surrounding organs, and no need for blood transfusion, there is a low risk of complication from nonoperative management.[1] In special cases where there is a higher risk with surgery, such as in the elderly, nonoperative management would include the infusion of packed red blood cells in an intensive care unit.[2] Typically hepatic injuries resulting from stab wounds cause little damage unless a vital part of the liver is injured, such as the hepatic portal vein; with gunshot wounds, the damage is worse.[16]

### Surgery

In severe liver injuries (class ≥III), or those with hemodynamic instability, surgery is generally necessary.[7] Surgical techniques such as perihepatic packing or the use of the Pringle manoeuvre can be used to control hemorrhage.[2][3] Temporary control of the hemorrhage can be accomplished through direct manual pressure to the wound site.[2] In these severe cases it is important to prevent the progression of the trauma triad of death, which often requires the utilization of damage control surgery.[14] New devices are being developed in order to control the bleeding using negative pressure.[17]

The common cause of death while operating is exsanguination caused by profuse loss of blood volume.[18] Rarely, surgery entails the use of liver resection, which removes the source of the bleeding and necrotic tissue. The drastic nature of this procedure means it can only be used in hemodynamically stable patients.[11] Another rare procedure would be liver transplantation which is typically impractical due to the logistics of finding a proper organ donor in a timely fashion.[19]

## History

In the 1880s a severe liver injury would in most cases prove fatal in the first 24 hours after sustaining the injury.[20] Before the 1980s nonoperative management was seldom used in favor of the methods of management suggested by James Hogarth Pringle.[21][22] During World War II the use of early laparotomy was popularized and in conjunction with the use of transfusions, advanced anesthetics, and other new surgical techniques led to decreased mortality.[23]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Current management of hepatic trauma". The Surgical Clinics of North America 90 (4): 775–85. August 2010. doi:10.1016/j.suc.2010.04.009. PMID 20637947.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Hepatic Trauma". European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery 34 (4): 339–54. August 2008. doi:10.1007/s00068-008-8029-5. PMID 26815811.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Management of blunt hepatic trauma". Journal of Visceral Surgery 147 (6): e351-8. December 2010. doi:10.1016/j.jviscsurg.2010.10.004. PMID 21111696.
4. ↑ "Quantitative Analysis of Tissue Damage Evolution in Porcine Liver With Interrupted Mechanical Testing Under Tension, Compression, and Shear". Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 140 (7): 0710101–07101010. July 2018. doi:10.1115/1.4039825. PMID 29715364.
5. ↑ Williams, Lakiesha N.; Liao, Jun; Horstemeyer, Mark F.; Marin, Esteban; Bouvard, Jean-Luc; Priddy, Lauren B.; Prabhu, R. K.; Patnaik, Sourav S. et al. (June 2019). "Mechanical Response of Porcine Liver Tissue under High Strain Rate Compression". Bioengineering 6 (2): 49. doi:10.3390/bioengineering6020049. PMID 31151177.
6. ↑ Moore 2012, p. 543
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Liver trauma: WSES position paper". World Journal of Emergency Surgery 10: 39. 2015-01-01. doi:10.1186/s13017-015-0030-9. PMID 26309445.
8. ↑ Pietzman 2002, p. 255
9. ↑ Moore 2012, p. 542
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Injury Scoring Scale" (in en). 2009-08-27. https://www.aast.org/resources-detail/injury-scoring-scale.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Surgical Management of Liver Trauma". Polish Journal of Surgery 81 (11): 554. 2009. doi:10.2478/v10035-009-0090-1.
12. ↑ "Liver Trauma Injury Score Calculator" (in en-US). https://radathand.com/radiology-calculators/emergency-radiology-calculator/liver-trauma-injury-score-aast/.
13. ↑ Moore 2012, p. 541
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Hepatic injury". Acta Cirurgica Brasileira 21 (Suppl 1): 85–8. 2006. doi:10.1590/s0102-86502006000700019. PMID 17013521.
15. ↑ American College of Surgeons (2004). Atls, Advanced Trauma Life Support Program for Doctors. Amer College of Surgeons. ISBN 978-1-880696-14-9. https://archive.org/details/atlsadvancedtrau0000unse.
16. ↑ Kenneth D. Boffard (2007). Manual of definitive surgical trauma care. London: Hodder Arnold. pp. 108. ISBN 978-0-340-94764-7. https://archive.org/details/manualdefinitive00boff_728.
17. ↑ Segura-Sampedro, Juan José; Pineño-Flores, Cristina; Craus-Miguel, Andrea; Morales-Soriano, Rafael; González-Argente, Francesc Xavier (2019-12-16). "New hemostatic device for grade IV–V liver injury in porcine model: a proof of concept". World Journal of Emergency Surgery 14 (1): 58. doi:10.1186/s13017-019-0277-7. ISSN 1749-7922. PMID 31889989.
18. ↑ "Liver trauma". Trauma 9 (3): 171–180. 2007. doi:10.1177/1460408607086775.
19. ↑ "Management of liver trauma". The British Journal of Surgery 86 (9): 1121–35. September 1999. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2168.1999.01210.x. PMID 10504364.
20. ↑ Moynihan, Baron Berkeley (1906). Abdominal operations. Saunders. pp. 563. https://books.google.com/books?id=2q0SAAAAYAAJ. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
21. ↑ "V. Notes on the Arrest of Hepatic Hemorrhage Due to Trauma". Annals of Surgery 48 (4): 541–9. October 1908. doi:10.1097/00000658-190810000-00005. PMID 17862242.
22. ↑ "Hepatic trauma". Scandinavian Journal of Surgery 91 (1): 72–9. 2002. doi:10.1177/145749690209100112. PMID 12075841.
23. ↑ Moore 2012, p. 539

## Bibliography

* Trauma, Seventh Edition (Trauma (Moore)). McGraw-Hill Professional. 2012. ISBN 978-0-07-166351-9.
* The trauma manual. Hagerstwon, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2002. ISBN 978-0-7817-2641-2.

## External links

Classification|

* ICD-10: S36.1
* ICD-9-CM: 864

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Template:Nonmusculoskeletal injuries of abdomen and pelvis

* v
* t
* e

Trauma

Principles|

* Polytrauma
* Major trauma
* Traumatology
* Triage
* Resuscitation
* Trauma triad of death

Assessment|

| Clinical prediction rules|

* Revised Trauma Score
* Injury Severity Score
* Abbreviated Injury Scale
* NACA score

|

Investigations|

* Diagnostic peritoneal lavage
* Focused assessment with sonography for trauma

Management|

| Principles|

* Advanced trauma life support
* Trauma surgery
* Trauma center
* Trauma team
* Damage control surgery
* Early appropriate care

|

Procedures|

* Resuscitative thoracotomy

Pathophysiology|

| Injury|

* MSK
* Bone fracture
* Joint dislocation
* Degloving
* Soft tissue injury
* Resp
* Flail chest
* Pneumothorax
* Hemothorax
* Diaphragmatic rupture
* Pulmonary contusion
* Cardio
* Internal bleeding
* Thoracic aorta injury
* Cardiac tamponade
* GI
* Blunt kidney trauma
* Ruptured spleen
* Neuro
* Penetrating head injury
* Traumatic brain injury
* Intracranial hemorrhage

|

Mechanism|

* Blast injury
* Blunt trauma
* Burn
* Penetrating trauma
* Crush injury
* Stab wound
* Ballistic trauma
* Electrocution

Region|

* Abdominal trauma
* Chest trauma
* Facial trauma
* Head injury
* Spinal cord injury

Demographic|

* Geriatric trauma
* Pediatric trauma

Complications|

* Posttraumatic stress disorder
* Wound healing
* Acute lung injury
* Crush syndrome
* Rhabdomyolysis
* Compartment syndrome
* Contracture
* Volkmann's contracture
* Fat embolism
* Chronic traumatic encephalopathy

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