Blunt injury of the infrarenal inferior vena cava - imaging and conservative management : trauma

ABSTRACT

Isolated rupture of the infrarenal segment of the inferior vena cava due to blunt trauma is relatively rare. It may be missed clinically and even diagnostic peritoneal lavage may prove negative. The mainstay of diagnosis remains a high degree of clinical suspicion together with sectional imaging. If the patient is haemodynamically stable after initial resuscitation and there is no other indication for exploratory surgery; these lesions can be managed conservatively with good outcome as shown in the case described in this report