Abdominal of Trauma

Abdominal Trauma The abdomen is the “Black Box”

I.e., it is impossible to know what specific injuries have occurred at initial evaluation

The key to saving lives in abdominal trauma is NOT to make an accurate diagnosis, but rather to recognize that there is an abdominal injury

Anatomy and Physiology

Signs and Symptoms of Abdominal Injuries

Blunt Trauma Significant mechanism Abdominal pain Distension Discoloration of abdomen or

flank Unexplained shock Bent steering wheel Seat belt signs Peritoneal signs

Penetrating trauma Visible truncal injury

including chest or abdomen Abdominal pain Bleeding Impaled object Evisceration Shock

Peritoneal Signs Significant abdominal tenderness on palpation Involuntary guarding Percussion tenderness Diminished or absent bowel sounds

Causes of Abdominal Injuries BLUNT TRAUMA

Motor vehicle accidents

Auto vs. pedestrian Falls Blast injuries

PENETRATING TRAUMA Gunshot wounds Stab wounds Shrapnel wounds Impalements

Diagnostic Procedures Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage (DPL) Ultrasound (FAST) CT Scan Laparoscopy

Types of Injuries Blunt and penetrating abdominal injuries may be

associated with extensive damage to the viscera resulting in massive blood loss.

Blunt or penetrating abdominal injuries are related to the: Type of force applied Tissue density of structure injured (e.g., fluid-filled, gas-filled,

solid, or encapsulated) The liver and spleen are the most commonly injured

organs from blunt trauma. The liver, small bowel and stomach are the most

commonly injured organs from penetrating trauma.

Blunt Abdominal Trauma Compressive or shearing

forces may deform and rupture abdominal organs

Bruising across the lower abdomen is characteristic of a seat belt injury

Visible signs may not reflect severity of underlying injury The Seat Belt Sign

Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Flank ecchymosis from internal bleeding

Penetrating Abdominal Trauma

Visible wounds may not reflect severity of underlying injury

Significant internal bleeding likely

Bowel injury likely Patient may be in

shock

Impalement Injury

Impalement Injuries Care DO NOT REMOVE

OBJECT OR EXERT ANY FORCE UPON IT! Severe bleeding may

occur causing shock Check pulses distal to

impaled object Immobilize the object Apply bulky support

bandages to hold in place

Evisceration

Extrusion of abdominal contents secondary to penetrating abdominal

trauma

Management of Evisceration Injuries Use sterile side of dressing to place protruding

organs near the wound (NOT into wound) Cover organs and wound completely with sterile or

clean moist dressing DO NOT APPLY PRESSURE TO WOUND or

expose internal parts Tie dressing tails loosely around wound Prepare evacuation to surgical assets

Hepatic Injuries Because of its size and location, the liver is frequently

injured when force is applied to the abdomen. The friability of liver tissue, the extensive blood supply,

and the blood storage capacity cause hepatic injury to result in profuse hemorrhage.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Upper right quadrant pain Abdominal wall muscle rigidity, spasm, or involuntary

guarding Rebound tenderness Hypoactive or absent bowel sounds Signs of hemorrhage and/or hypovolemic shock

Splenic Injuries Injury to the spleen is usually associated with blunt trauma, but

may also be associated with penetrating trauma. Fractures of the left 10th to 12th ribs are associated with

underlying damage to the spleen. The most serious splenic injury is a severely fractured spleen or

vascular tear, producing splenic ischemia and massive blood loss.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Signs of hemorrhage or hypovolemic shock Pain in the left shoulder (Kehr's sign) Tenderness in the upper left quadrant Abdominal wall muscle rigidity, spasm, or involuntary guarding

Hollow Organ Injuries Forces causing trauma to hollow organs may result in

either blunt or penetrating injuries. The small bowel is the hollow organ most frequently

injured. Deceleration may lead to shearing, which causes avulsion or tearing of the small bowel.

Seat belts causing compression have resulted in rupture of the small bowel or colon.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Peritoneal irritation Evisceration of the small bowel or stomach Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage (DPL) may show presence of

bile, feces, or food fibers

Renal Injuries The most common injury to the kidney is a blunt

contusion, Suspect renal injury if there are fractures of the posterior ribs or lumbar vertebrae.

Renal parenchyma can be damaged by shearing and compression forces causing lacerations or contusion.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Ecchymosis over the flank Flank or abdominal tenderness elicited during palpation Gross or microscopic hematuria—the absence of hematuria

does not rule out renal injury

Bladder and Urethral Injuries The majority of bladder injuries are blunt. If a distended bladder ruptures are perforated, urine is likely to

extravasate into the abdomen. Most ruptures of the bladder occur in association with pelvic

fractures. Urethral trauma is more common in males than females because

the male urethra is longer and less protected. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Suprapubic pain Urge, but inability to urinate Hematuria (may be microscopic) Blood at the urethral meatus Blood in scrotum Rebound tenderness