Hepatic subcapsular hematoma. Morphology and results of surgical treatment

Abstract

Subcapsular hematoma of the liver (SHL) is a rare entity. The majority of cases are associated with pregnancy, in the context of low platelet count syndrome, elevated liver enzymes, and hemolysis. Other related pathologies are ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma, adenoma, focal nodular hyperplasia, and amyloidosis. The aim of this article was to report morphology and results of the surgical treatment observed in a series of patients with SHL, in terms of postoperative morbidity (POM). Retrospective case series of patients with SHL who were intervened consecutively at Clínica RedSalud Mayor Temuco, between 2004 and 2019. The results variable was MPO. Other variables of interest were age, sex, etiology, diameter, need for transfusion, and length of hospitalization. Descriptive statistics were used; 7 patients (71.4 % women) were treated with a median age of 46 years. The median diameter of SHL, surgical time, and hospital stay were 11 months, no POM and mortality were verified. SHL is a rare condition, and the available evidence is scarce. It can be associated with benign and malignant diseases. It requires a high index of suspicion for a timely diagnosis. Its prognosis depends on the etiology.