Treatment of a newborn with birth trauma of the liver with catheter embolization of a vessel

Birth trauma of the liver with the development of subcapsular hematoma and hemoperitoneum is reported extremely rarely. The slow enlargement of the hematoma also results in delayed development of bleeding symptoms. Noticeable clinical manifestations appear simultaneously when the hematoma ruptures into the abdominal cavity. Later, the symptoms develop very quickly that doctors failed to understand the root cause of the bleeding. The diagnosis is established only during autopsy. When conservative therapy is ineffective, open surgery is conducted; however, the surgery is associated with a high risk of unfavorable outcomes. Herein, we present a clinical case demonstrating successful treatment with endovascular embolization of a vessel due to bleeding from a giant subcapsular hematoma of the liver in a newborn.

The child was born in a settlement of the Arkhangelsk Region and weighed 3480 grams. A vacuum extractor was used to assist the weak mother during delivery. The child was in a critical condition and suffered from asphyxia. Mechanical ventilation was used. At 10 h after birth, the child was taken to a specialized neonatal center of Arkhangelsk (the helicopter flight took 2.5 h). The intensive therapy continued. Negative dynamics followed. At 25 h after birth, hemodynamic indexes decreased. X-ray and ultrasound investigations of the abdominal cavity revealed a large hematoma in the liver. It occupied the entire area of the right liver lobe. Abdominal bleeding was diagnosed. The child was taken to the X-ray department. The newborn underwent urgent endovascular embolization of the right hepatic artery. The bleeding was stopped, and the child’s condition was stable. On follow-up at age 1 year and 5 months, the child’s development was in accordance with age, and blood biochemical parameters were within normal limits. Ultrasound data revealed well recovery of the liver structure.

With extensive birth trauma of the liver, minimally invasive surgery, i.e., endovascular embolization of vessels, can be considered an alternative option to surgical treatment.