Spontaneous rupture of the liver in a patient admitted for subarachnoid hemorrhage

Spontaneous idiopathic liver hemorrhage: a systematic review of a rare entity

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous idiopathic liver hemorrhage (SILH) is a rare life-threatening condition occurring without a clear and specific etiology. A systematic review was performed to provide guidelines for the perioperative management of patients affected by SILH. A case report was also included.

METHODS

A systematic search of the last 24-year literature was conducted and the manuscript was structured following point-by-point the PRISMA guidelines.

RESULTS

After an initial selection of 6995 titles, 15 articles were considered for the final qualitative analysis (n = 22 patients, including the present report). Conservative treatment was chosen in 12 cases (54.5%) with stable clinical conditions, while 9 patients (40.9%) required a primary operative approach for emergency presentation at diagnosis. Direct liver resection was the preferred surgical treatment (n = 6), mostly major hepatectomies (n = 4). Hepatic arterial embolization was performed as the primary operative approach in three patients, followed by emergency laparotomy during the same hospitalization because of rebleeding in one case. Contrast-enhanced CT scan was the gold standard for diagnosis (n = 19).

CONCLUSIONS

Conservative treatment of SILH is mainly based on stable clinical conditions and may be considered even in case of a limited arterial blush found on imaging. The absence of underlying hepatic or systemic disorders seems to correlate with favorable outcomes and no mortality.

Hepatic infarction, hematoma, and rupture in HELLP syndrome: support for a vasospastic hypothesis

Purpose: HELLP syndrome is a relatively uncommon pregnancy-related condition characterized by hemolysis, elevated liver function tests, and low platelets. It can be accompanied by life-threatening hepatic complications including hepatic infarction, hematoma formation, and hepatic rupture. HELLP syndrome occurs in approximately 0.2% of pregnancies. Major hepatic complications occur in less than 1% of HELLP patients suggesting an incidence of 1/50,000. The pathogenesis is incompletely understood and in particular, it is difficult to understand a disorder with both major thrombotic and bleeding manifestations.Methods: Literature review.Results: On the basis of reports in the published literature, and our own clinical experience, we suggest that vasospasm is one of the principal drivers with hepatic ischemia, infarction, and hemorrhage as secondary events. It is known that vasoactive substances are released by the failing placenta. We suggest these cause severe vasospasm, most likely affecting the small post-sinusoidal hepatic venules. This leads to patchy or confluent hepatic ischemia and/or necrosis with a resultant increase in circulating liver enzymes. Reperfusion is associated with a fall in platelet count and microvascular hemorrhage if the microvasculature is infarcted. Blood tracks to the subcapsular space causing hematoma formation. If the hematoma ruptures the patient presents with severe abdominal pain, intra-abdominal hemorrhage, and shock.Conclusions: We suggest that hepatic and other complications associated with HELLP syndrome including placental abruption, acute renal failure, and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) may also be due to regional vasospasm.

Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, and Low Platelets, Severe Fetal Growth Restriction, Postpartum Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, and Craniotomy: A Rare Case Report and Systematic Review

Introduction. Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome is a relatively uncommon but traumatic condition occurring in the later stage of pregnancy as a complication of severe preeclampsia or eclampsia. Prompt brain computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a multidisciplinary management approach are required to improve perinatal outcome. Case. A 37-year-old, Gravida 6, Para 1-0-4-1, Hispanic female with a history of chronic hypertension presented at 26 weeks and 6 days of gestational age. She was noted to have hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome accompanied by fetal growth restriction (FGR), during ultrasound evaluation, warranting premature delivery. The infant was delivered in stable condition suffering no permanent neurological deficit. Conclusion. HELLP syndrome is an uncommon and traumatic obstetric event which can lead to neurological deficits if not managed in a responsive and rapid manner. The central aggravating factor seems to be hypertension induced preeclamptic or eclamptic episode and complications thereof. The syndrome itself is manifested by hemolytic anemia, increased liver enzymes, and decreasing platelet counts with a majority of neurological defects resulting from hemorrhagic stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). To minimize adverse perinatal outcomes, obstetric management of this medical complication must include rapid clinical assessment, diagnostic examination, and neurosurgery consultation.