BioGlue for traumatic liver laceration

INTRODUCTION: Advances in diagnostic imaging and monitoring have led to a shift towards primary non-operative management for most blunt liver injuries. Hemostatic biologic agents are a potential adjunct in the treatment of bile leak, especially in patients requiring surgery for drainage of a biloma. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present a 31 year old woman who presented to the hospital after a motor vehicle accident. She was found to have a Grade 4 liver injury causing hemoperitoneum. The patient was taken immediately for an exploratory laparotomy where the laceration was packed with an absorbable hemostatic mesh. On clinic follow-up one week after discharge, the patient was found to have a bile leak. An ERCP was performed and a stent was placed over the location of the leak. The patient underwent laparotomy the following day for evacuation of her bilomas. The liver laceration was identified and remained at the same depth. CryoLife Bioglue was used to seal the laceration. DISCUSSION: Given the high volume biloma, it is unlikely this patient would have been successfully treated without laparotomy. As such, this was an ideal opportunity to utilize Bioglue as an adjunct to seal the liver laceration, and thus potentially the area of bile extravasation. The diversion of drainage using ERCP was likely to have reduced the volume of bile leak substantially, which would also have helped increase the efficacy of the procedure. CONCLUSION: The case presented demonstrates a novel and safe option for the delayed repair of traumatic lacerations.