To investigate the application value of surgical treatments for severe traumatic hepatorrhexis patients.

Clinical data of 25 patients with severe traumatic hepatorrhexis receiving surgical treatments in Changhai Hospital of Second Military Medical University from October 2009 to October 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 17 males and 8 females with the average age of (35±10) years. According to the injury scale of American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, 17 cases were divided as grade Ⅳ, 5 as grade Ⅴ and 3 as grade Ⅵ. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the local ethical committee approval had been received. Full preparation was made prior to surgery. All patients underwent emergency surgery under general anesthesia via intubation. Twenty patients received irregular hepatectomy, 1 underwent regular hepatectomy, 3 received repair of retrohepatic inferior vena cava under total hepatic vascular exclusion and 1 was treated with perihepatic gauze packing.

Twenty-three cases were cured, and 2 died from hemorrhagic shock. Six cases developed postoperative complications including 3 with subphrenic abscess, 1 with biliary leakage, 1 with pleural effusion and 1 with wound infection. All were cured after symptomatic treatments.

Surgical hemostasis should be performed immediately for patients with severe traumatic hepatorrhexis. Irregular hepatectomy is the primary surgical procedure.