A potentially fatal grade V liver injury and concomitant hemopneumothorax undergoing multiple surgeries: A case report study

Due to its size, vascular structure, and fragile parenchyma, the liver is considered the most common cause of mortality due to abdominal solid organ injury. Here we present a case of a patient suffering from blunt liver trauma with a review of the literature.

A young 33 years old male patient was referred to our medical center by the EMS with a chief complaint of pain and dyspnea due to direct thoracoabdominal trauma. The patient presented with hypotension and was transferred to the intensive care unit for close monitoring. Radiologic investigations showed lung contusion with grade V liver injury. The patient underwent damage control surgery and the definitive surgery following that and showed no signs of complication during the hospital stay and follow-up visits.

Trauma is among the leading causes of death worldwide, with head and extremities being the most affected injury sites, followed by abdominal trauma. The most affected group is young males. During the last decades, non-operative management(NOM) of abdominal trauma has increasingly gained popularity among surgeons due to the prevention of laparotomy complications such as infections. Concomitant injuries, including solid and hollow organs alongside liver trauma, affect the morbidity and mortality status of the patient and are associated with high mortality rates if not addressed immediately and appropriately.