Abdominal Trauma

Question 1

What are the clinical features of abdominal trauma?

Answer 1

• ALOC
• Dyspnoea
• Abdo pain / discomfort, guarding & tenderness on palpation
• Hypovolaemic shock
• abdominal bruising (Cullen’s & Grey Turner’s sign)
• shoulder tip pain (Kehr’s sign)

Question 2

What is the standard management for a patient with abdominal trauma?

Answer 2

Shocked?

No:
- maintain normothermia
- manage other injuries

Consider:
- IV access
- analgesia
- antiemetic
- FAST

If yes,

With TBI:
Consider:
- IV access
- IV fluid
- pelvic binder
- FAST
- blood

Shocked without TBI:
Consider:
- IV access
- IV fluid (maintain radial pulse)
- pelvic binder
- FAST
- blood