Understanding a Bruised Liver

Introduction

The liver is a large, shaped wedge organ that is located just below the lungs and rib cage. Due to its dimensions and placement, it is also one of the most injured organs in the body, to a great extent when it comes to blunt-force trauma. The vital functions of a lung are to filter toxins from the blood, oxygenate the blood, create bile to digest fats, and make substances that help the blood clot.

A bruise or contusion belongs to a type of injury. It is caused when tiny blood vessels break and spill the blood into surrounding tissues. The liver is a large organ placed in the upper right section of the abdomen, under the right ribs. It can become bruised after an injury to that particular area.

What Causes a Bruised Liver?

The following are the common causes of a bruised liver:

• Roadside car accidents.

• Direct blows towards the belly. This may happen while playing any sport or while in a physical fight.

• Falling over the belly.

• Injury due to a gunshot or stab wound.

If a person experiences any forceful trauma over the liver, it may lead to one or more of the following types of injuries:

• Hematoma refers to the accumulation of blood, which is caused when the wall of a blood vessel is injured or ruptured.

• Laceration or tear to the liver, which can be shallow and cause no bleeding, or it can be deep and cause bleeding heavily.

• Loss of blood supply to the liver.

What Are the Symptoms of a Bruised Liver?

The following are the symptoms of a liver that has been bruised or damaged. These can include:

• Shortness of breath.

• Dizziness.

• Lightheadedness.

• Pale skin appearance.

• Ongoing blood loss both externally and internally.

• Severe back.

• Abdominal pain.

• Unexplained swelling of the abdomen.

What Are the Investigations Performed to Diagnose Bruised Liver?

To diagnose any liver problem or injury, healthcare professionals may use a combination of imaging, blood tests, and a physical exam.

Ultrasound - It is a cheap, fast, painless imaging investigation that uses ultrasound waves to determine whether there is an injury or bleeding in the liver.

CT Scan (Computed Tomography) - A CT scan is a painless imaging examination that gives images of the inside of the liver. This helps the healthcare provider see how severe a liver injury is and if there's damage to the deeper parts of the liver.

Angiogram - An angiogram, also referred to as an arteriogram, produces images of the arteries. It can tell the healthcare provider if blood is oozing through tears in the walls of the blood vessels in the liver. The doctor will use contrast material or dye, given through an intravenous (IV) line, to look at the flow of blood.

Blood Tests - The doctor can take blood from a vein and investigate it to make sure the liver chemistry is healthy. This type of test can show whether a person has the right liver enzymes, proteins, and bilirubin levels in the blood. It can also detect if a person has lost an excessive amount of blood or has enough of the compounds needed to help the blood clot.

The healthcare professional can quickly perform most of these tests to determine whether there is any damage to the liver and how serious it is. If a person has other injuries, the doctor can also use these and other tests to diagnose those injuries.

What Are the Treatment Options for Bruised Liver?

Treatment for a bruised liver can depend on the seriousness of the condition and symptoms a patient is experiencing.

Mild Injuries:

According to new or recent guidelines, nonoperative management for all grades of liver brushing should be considered the standard treatment when surgery is unnecessary. These nonoperative modalities can include angioembolization or angiography, which are very minimally invasive procedures where healthcare providers use imaging techniques as a guide to help close arteries that are losing too much blood.

For minor bruises to the liver, close monitoring is the treatment doctors always recommend.

Moderate to Severe Injuries:

Severe injuries caused by a bruised liver may need immediate surgical treatment to stop uncontrolled bleeding resulting in hemorrhage and any further damage that may happen to the liver.

• Angioembolization can be used in patients with severe or moderate injuries to control bleeding.

• Another treatment that can be helpful in managing hemorrhage is a resuscitative endovascular balloon, which is placed in the aorta to control bleeding.

• With advanced modalities in imaging techniques and treatments, the doctor or healthcare team can observe a patient's care to make sure that they do not lose blood and maintain their blood pressure.

While the patient is being monitored, they must give frequent blood samples. If a patient has outflow an excessive amount of blood, the doctor may advise a blood transfusion.

What Are the Self-Care Tips for Patients Suffering From Bruised Liver?

A bruised liver may feel tender and sore. If the doctor recommends managing the injury at home, here are some steps that can be taken to help the patient's speedy recovery:

• Rest - Getting enough rest helps the body and the liver to recover rapidly. It also lowers the risk of hurting the liver again.

• Avoid Alcohol - The liver breaks down any alcohol that a person drinks. If the liver is injured, the affected person should not drink alcohol and give rest to the liver.

• Limit Non-prescription Medications - The liver is majorly responsible for breaking down many medications, including Acetaminophen. Ask the doctor what medications a patient should avoid or limit while the liver heals.

What Are the Complications of a Bruised Liver?

The following are the complications related to the bruised liver.

• Severe blood loss can lead to shock.

• Infection.

• Problems with the pathways that carry bile from the liver to nearby organs

• Abdominal compartment syndrome. This occurs when the pressure in the belly is higher than normal.

• Death.

Conclusion

The liver is considered one of the vital organs of the human body. The size, location, and amount of blood vessels in the liver make it vulnerable to injury and bleeding due to blunt force trauma. Depending on the severity of the force, liver trauma can cause injuries ranging from minor to potentially life-threatening.

In some conditions, an individual may not feel pain or know that they are bleeding internally. Therefore, it is essential to get medical treatment if a person has any trauma to the right upper abdomen or lower chest wall, where the liver is located. Getting medical care as quickly as possible is highly recommended to avoid any potential complications.