A rare opportunity for conservative treatment in a case of blunt trauma to the supradiaphragmatic inferior vena cava.

Injuries to the inferior vena cava (IVC) secondary to blunt trauma are rare and occur in only 1-10% of all blunt trauma patients. Management of these injuries has not been subjected to major studies, but several case reports and small retrospective studies have demonstrated that management can be tailored to the hemodynamic status of the patient; this is similar to the management of blunt liver injuries. Stable patients whose injuries have achieved local venous tamponade have been successfully treated without surgical intervention, while unstable patients require operative management.