Treatment of a Patient With Closed Liver Injury Using Interventional Methods: a Case Study

Background. Mechanical injury occupies a leading position among the causes of mortality in the working-age population. Diagnosis and treatment of isolated and combined abdominal traumas accompanied by bleeding appear to be a specific challenge. Due to difficulties in diagnosis and treatment, they are characterized by frequent complications and an increased mortality rate.
Currently, there is no uniform tactics for diagnosing and treating patients with liver damage. In Russia and globally, new approaches are being actively introduced for the treatment of patients with closed liver traumas using minimally invasive techniques.
The aim of study was to present a clinical case of a patient with a closed liver injury treated using interventional methods, such as angiography and embolization.
Materials and methods. According to conventional techniques, the patient had to undergo laparotomy with complex manipulations to stop intra-abdominal bleeding from a ruptured liver, which would inevitably worsen her condition in the context of a presenting severe injury.
Multiple studies reported that the number of postoperative complications after laparotomy is up to 41%, and in case of combined trauma 10-35% of complications can be one of the causes of death [6, 7, 8]. In order to avoid more traumatic treatment approaches, we applied tactics using minimally invasive high-tech diagnostic and treatment options.
Results. To stop intra-abdominal bleeding from a liver rupture, which was previously diagnosed during multislice computed tomography (MSCT) with intravenous contrast, using interventional options, selective embolization of the segmental branch of the right hepatic artery was performed with an adhesive composition. The post-traumatic period proceeded without complications; in 14 days after the injury, the patient was discharged in satisfactory condition.
Conclusion. Minimally invasive and conservative treatment of patients with closed abdominal traumas using interventional radiology can be successfully applied in specialized trauma centers.