Hemobilia complicating a liver abcess

Abstract

We present the case of an 11-year-old female, with a history of colicky pain abdomen fever, and episode of massive hematemesis and melena. The child was presented to the medical emergency with features of shock. Coagulation profile of the child was normal. Ultrasonography demonstrated multiple liver abscess. Repeated endoscopies ruled out the possibility of gastric or upper gastrointestinal causes of bleed where in the possibility of hemobilia, was considered. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography demonstrated the presence of bleeding from the biliary tract. Angiography demonstrated the presence of the communication of the biliary radicles with the hepatic vessels and also aided with therapeutic embolization. Hemobilia is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage with an increasing incidence because of the widespread use of invasive hepatobiliary procedures and improved recognition. In the majority of cases the cause is iatrogenic and those associated with the liver abscess are scantily reported in the English literature. Persistent bleeding sometimes requires urgent therapeutic intervention, such as angiography or surgery. © The Author [2007]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.