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Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Computed Tomography | Case report

Subcapsular hepatic hematoma as a complication of severe preeclampsia: a case report

Authors: Kiel Luhning, Hilary MacCormick, Bruce Macaulay, Marianna Saunders, Catherine Craig

Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Subcapsular hepatic hematoma is a rare and life-threatening complication of pregnancy. It is most commonly associated with severe preeclampsia and hemolytic anemia, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome. Patients with subcapsular hepatic hematoma typically present with epigastric, right upper quadrant or shoulder pain, nausea and vomiting, and/or shortness of breath. Here we describe a patient with a classic pain presentation, a large unruptured hematoma, and an unusual postpartum course.

Case

A 40-year-old gravida 1 para 0 Caucasian woman presented at 39 + 6 weeks gestational age with a 3-day history of new onset pain in an otherwise uncomplicated pregnancy. She described the pain along her right torso as severe, shooting, and sharp, but at times pleuritic in nature. She was found to have new onset preeclampsia and hemolytic anemia, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome. Induction of labor was initiated and eventually she delivered by cesarean section. Her pain persisted in the postpartum period and abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a 16 cm subcapsular hepatic hematoma. Despite the hematoma being thin walled, conservative management was recommended by the general surgeon. She then re-presented on postpartum day 15 with tachypnea, dyspnea, and pleuritic chest pain. Secondary to the subcapsular hepatic hematoma, she then developed an infected and loculated, large pleural effusion. This required video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery before her eventual discharge home on postpartum day 21.

Conclusions

There should be high clinical suspicion of subcapsular hepatic hematoma in patients with persistent pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Urgent imaging to investigate for subcapsular hepatic hematoma is then indicated. Cesarean delivery without labor and treatment for severe preeclampsia should be undertaken if subcapsular hepatic hematoma is found. Conservative management and serial imaging are reasonable for the follow-up of a large, unruptured hematoma. Hepatic artery embolization should also be considered. Subcapsular hepatic hematoma may be complicated by infected pleural effusions and require video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.
Literature
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Metadata
Title
Subcapsular hepatic hematoma as a complication of severe preeclampsia: a case report
Authors
Kiel Luhning
Hilary MacCormick
Bruce Macaulay
Marianna Saunders
Catherine Craig
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Medical Case Reports / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1752-1947
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-021-03166-w

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