A new diagnostic aid in traumatic hemobilia.

A case report of traumatic hemobilia following suture of superficial laceration of the liver is presented. The diagnosis was confirmed by emergency endoscopy preoperatively. Segmental hepatic resection was successful. Endoscopy is the most convenient as well as harmless procedure in establishing the diagnosis preoperatively. The importance of careful observation of the papilla of Vater in endoscopy to determine the site of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage is emphasized. In addition, the introduction of serial endoscopy to follow the course of mild hemobilia is suggested.