SEGMENTAL BILE-DUCT INJURY AFTER BLUNT ABDOMINAL-TRAUMA - A DIFFICULT DIAGNOSIS

Injury to the extrahepatic biliary system after blunt abdominal trauma is rare and may be overlooked due to associated intra-abdominal trauma. We report on a 31-year-old man who, following blunt abdominal trauma, presented with an unusual injury of the extrahepatic left hepatic duct within the umbilical fissure which was diagnosed only at relaparotomy. Whenever injury to the biliary system is suspected, a thorough assessment of the liver, the extrahepatic biliary system including the left ductal system within the umbilical fissure region should be carried out. Diagnosis is facilitated by intra-operative cholangiography.