Current management of hepatic, bilary and pancreatic trauma

The management of hepatic trauma should be, if possible, non-operative and is initially determined by hemodynamic stability, absence of coagulopathy and limited need for blood transfusions. In hemodynamically unstable patients specific attempts to control intraparenchymal hemorrhage and resection are contraindicated. Perihepatic packing is the therapy of choice. If the hemorrhage cannot be controlled, parenchymal resection or hepatectomy with subsequent transplantation must be performed. Biliary leakage is the cause of chronic complications. The current management of intraparenchymal lesions consists of longterm drainage or stenting as combined radiological and endoscopical techniques. Pancreatic ruptures without ductal injury are treated non-operatively or by external drainage. Ductal lesions with persistent fistulas are handled depending on localization either by distal resection, pancreaticojejunostomy of the injured segment, or partial pancreaticoduodenectomy if massive disruption of the pancreatic head, duodenum or bile duct are present.