Biliary pleural fistula: a complication of hepatic trauma

Biliary pleural fistula is an uncommon but potentially fatal complication of hepatic trauma. We report successful surgical management of such a problem in a 13-year-old along with a review of the literature, the importance of the demonstration of bile in a pleural effusion after thoracentesis in the diagnosis, and of an aggressive approach in management of biliary pleural fistulas.