Liver laceration presented as intraabdominal bleeding in a newborn with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Abstract

Objectives: Birth injuries usually occur with two different mechanisms: trauma due to mechanic stress during labor and hypoxic-ischemic injury. Sometimes these two mechanisms can occur at the same time with a complex clinical picture. Case presentation: The baby girl was born at 37(2/7) weeks after a prolonged second stage of labor, weighing 3,725 g, and was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with the diagnosis of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. During follow up she developed multiorgan failure and severe anemia. On the third postnatal day, abdominal bleeding was detected. Laceration in the liver capsule was found and appeared to be the source of bleeding. Conclusions: Abdominal bleeding secondary to mechanical laceration of the liver is hard to diagnose and may coexist with perinatal asphyxia.