The WSES (World Society of Emergency Surgery) grade for liver trauma classifies Grade IV (severe) hepatic injury as:
- A Parenchymal laceration 1–3 cm involving no trabecular vessels
- B Active bleeding from penetrating mechanism requiring damage control surgery regardless of haemodynamics
- C Parenchymal laceration >3 cm (AAST Grade III) with haemodynamic instability not responding to resuscitation, or juxtahepatic venous involvement (retrohepatic cava, main hepatic veins) regardless of haemodynamics ✓
- D Avulsion of the hepatoduodenal ligament with porta hepatis injury
Explanation
WSES liver trauma grade is based on both AAST morphological grade and haemodynamic status: WSES Grade I = AAST I–II haemodynamically stable; Grade II = AAST III stable; Grade III = AAST IV–V stable; Grade IV = AAST IV–V with haemodynamic instability OR AAST III–V unstable, OR any grade with juxtahepatic vascular injury (retrohepatic IVC, main hepatic veins). Grade IV requires damage control surgery/angioembolisation. This grading guides operative versus non-operative management decisions.
Reference: Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.