Retrohepatic hematoma causing caval compression after blunt abdominal trauma

Blunt injury to the inferior vena cava (IVC) is a rare event, which occurs in 1% to 10% of blunt-trauma patients. Injuries usually result from deceleration, which causes atriocaval rupture or tearing of the hepatic veins, and are sometimes complicated by uncontrollable hemorrhage. An unusual case of focal extrinsic compression of the vessel caused by retrohepatic hemorrhage is reported, which ultimately has required no operative intervention and seems to have had no long-term ill effects. The literature on blunt injury to the IVC is reviewed, which includes a review of posttraumatic Budd-Chiari syndrome.