SEGMENTAL BILE-DUCT INJURY AFTER BLUNT ABDOMINAL-TRAUMA - A DIFFICULTDIAGNOSIS

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