Subcapsular hematoma of the liver in infants of very low birth weight.

Between January 1982 and May 1986 a large subcapsular hemorrhage of the liver (SHL) was diagnosed in six infants who weighed 1000 g or less at birth at Royal Alexandria Hospitals, Edmonton. The diagnosis of a ruptured SHL was made between 4 and 18 days of life by means of clinical and sonographic findings in four of the infants; an intact SHL was diagnosed at autopsy in the other two. None of the cases was associated with parenchymal rupture of the liver. Thrombocytopenia was present in five of the six infants and in all four infants with hemoperitoneum. Other possibly relevant antecedent events included mechanical ventilation (in all six), administration of indomethacin (in all six), hypoxia (in five), bilateral pneumothorax necessitating repeated pleural drainage (in three), external cardiac massage (in three) and septicemia (in two). Two of the three infants who underwent surgery survived the operation but later died of unrelated events. One infant who was managed conservatively also survived. A large SHL should be considered in all infants of very low birth weight with unexplained hypovolemia or anemia.