[The diagnosis of traumatic haemobilia and bilhaemia (author's transl)]

Abstract

A case of bile passage into the portal vein (bilhaemia) and two cases of haemobilia are reported. The former is a hitherto undescribed complication of liver injury, in the reported case first noted two weeks after trauma. Serum-bilirubin concentration was 560 mg/l (958 mumol/l). Bilhaemia or haemobilia may occur when a fistula has been formed between the bile duct system and the circulatory system, depending on pressure differences between the two. The diagnosis and exact localisation of bilhaemia or haemobilia can be made by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, a useful complementary test to selective angiography.