[Post-traumatic sequestra of the liver]

The authors report 92 cases of trauma of the liver which survived initial operation and study the special problems linked to hepatic sequestration. They analyse the factors which favour the appearance of these sequestra and the methods of diagnosis using clinical, laboratory, arteriographic and scintigraphic data. Relatively frequent (8,4 p. 100), these complications require fairly early surgical treatment. They are commonly localised to the dome of the liver and this renders their approach difficult. A low postero-lateral thoracotomy with resection of the 10 th or 11 th rib, followed by sequestrectomy and drainage, seems to them ideal approach. The pleuropulmonary sequelae are minimal.