Hemobilia

Abstract

Hemobilia is an uncommon medical problem that presents in a varied fashion and is increasingly of iatrogenic origin. The diagnosis of hemobilia needs to be considered in patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly if they are jaundiced with abdominal pain in the setting of recent or previous percutaneous liver intervention or abdominal trauma. Multislice computed tomographic angiography is increasingly being used in the investigation, but transcatheter arterial embolization remains the cornerstone of managing those patients requiring intervention. The majority of patients with hemobilia will be managed supportively or with radiologic intervention; most do not require surgical intervention.