Reconstruction of a total avulsion of the hepatic veins and the suprahepatic inferior vena cava secondary to blunt thoracoabdominal trauma

Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2011 Feb;396(2):261-5. doi: 10.1007/s00423-010-0652-z. Epub 2010 Jun 4.

Abstract

Introduction: Blunt injury to the inferior vena cava is a rare but dramatic event having a high mortality up to 80%. The mortality increases after total avulsion especially in combination with secondary intra-abdominal injuries.

Case report: We report on a 15-year-old boy who sustained a blunt trauma with a total, partially covered avulsion of the hepatic veins and the suprahepatic inferior vena cava.

Discussion: We treated the patient under internal bypassing of the retrohepatic vena cava by using the heart-lung machine and reconstructed the hepatic veins and suprahepatic vena cava with a conduit made of pericard.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Injuries / complications*
  • Adolescent
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / methods*
  • Heart-Lung Machine
  • Hepatic Veins / injuries
  • Hepatic Veins / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pericardium / transplantation
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures
  • Thoracic Injuries / complications*
  • Vascular System Injuries / etiology
  • Vascular System Injuries / surgery*
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / injuries
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / surgery*
  • Wounds, Nonpenetrating / complications