Hepatic subcapsular hematomas (HSH) are an extremely rare post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) complication. Mortality exhibits disparities depending on the integrity of the hepatic capsular envelope, with ruptured HSH being associated with higher case fatality rates (2.2 % compared to 21.4 %).

Two clinical cases are presented concerning a 20-year-old female patient and a 40-year-old male patient, who were diagnosed with choledocholithiasis and underwent ERCP procedures with the use of a wide-bore guidewire (WBG), with the undesired result of HSH as a complication. In both scenarios, a surgical approach strategy was chosen to manage this situation. The outcome turned out to be successful in the first case, in contrast to the unfortunate death of the patient in the second case.

Conservative approaches prevail in the management of HSH, as they often present intact, resulting in a low mortality rate. However, surgical approaches are reserved for consideration in situations of hemodynamic instability that persists despite the conservative measures implemented.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is one of the most frequently performed minimally invasive procedures currently available for diagnosis and treatment of biliary and pancreatic diseases. Though considered a safe procedure, it has the highest rate of complications among the other endoscopic procedures, such as duodenal perforation and hepatic subcapsular hematoma (HSH). We are a presenting a case report and review of the current literature.

We report one case HSH rupture, in a 25 years old female patient, 15 cm in diameter, affecting liver segments VI, VII and VIII, who underwent surgical treatment and performed a systematic literature review with the descriptors: endoscopic retrograde colangiopancreatography and hepatic subcapsular hematoma. All articles were reviewed and data on cases that presented rupture of the HSH analyzed separately.

Sixty one cases of HSH were described in the literature, fourteen of them ruptured. When analyzing only the subgroup of patients who had ruptured subcapsular hematoma, we showed a significant increase in the mortality rate of patients when compared to non-ruptured (21.4% × 2.2%). We also report that patients with rupture required some type of intervention, of which 78.6% required surgery. Conservative treatment may be the conduct and will suffice for most cases of non-ruptured hematomas. For patients who evolve with rupturing, surgical resolution, although non-mandatory, is necessary in most cases.

HSH ruptured is a rare and potentially fatal post-ERCP complication whose treatment is eminently surgical.

Hepatic hematoma is a rare but possible complication of ERCP. We describe the case of a 75-year old man with a large, 8 × 12 cm, sub-capsular and intra-parenchymal hematoma post ERCP, affecting the right liver segments and treated conservatively.

A review of literature has been performed, highlighting two possible mechanisms: hematoma may occur as the result of accidental laceration of a small intrahepatic vessel by the guidewire, whereas the other hypothesis posits that the hepatic damage is secondary to traction on the biliary system exerted by the balloon. We speculate that in case of anomalies of the biliary tree, the incidence of this complication is higher than expected.

In case of hepatic hematoma post ERCP, a conservative approach should always be considered before proceeding to interventional radiologic procedures or to surgical therapy.

Based on two clinical cases that developed subcapsular hematoma after ERCP procedure and resolved each one differently (conservative management and surgery, respectively) we have made a brief review of current status, risk factors and treatment options. We also summarize the cases that required surgery. With the increase of endoscopic procedures, it is important to consider this type of major and severe complication.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a commonly used diagnostic and therapeutic technique but it is not free of complications. Subcapsular hepatic haematoma is a rare but potentially fatal complication. A 71-years-old male patient resorted to the emergency department 36 hours after an uneventful ERCP presenting with severe abdominal pain and haemoglobin drop. Abdominal ultrasound and CT scan diagnosed a subcapsular hepatic haematoma. The patient was haemodynamically normal and was successfully treated with a conservative management. Signs and symptoms of hepatic haematoma following ERCP are non-specific. The most common symptom is abdominal pain. Abdominal CT, ultrasound or MRI make the diagnosis. Conservative management is possible if the patient is stable, nevertheless invasive treatment such as surgery or angiographic embolisation, may be required. A low threshold of suspicion is crucial for an early diagnosis and treatment. Fatal cases have been described but most patients have a favourable outcome.

Nowadays endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a minimally invasive technique with a complication rate around 2.5% in expert hands, being the most frequent: acute pancreatitis, cholangitis, hemorrhage and perforation. An exceptional complication is subcapsular hepatic hematoma, first published in the literature in 2000, with few cases reported. Regarding the case published by Del Moral Martínez et al (Hepatic Hematoma after ERCP: presentation of two new cases. Rev Esp Enferm Dig 2017, Vol. 109, No. 6, pp. 470-473) we would like to contribute a reflection based on a recent clinical case in our center.