Abdominal Trauma Flashcards
What causes blunt trauma?
Compression or shear injuries
What is a compression injury?
When abdominal organs are crushed between solid objects.
What are shear injuries?
They are caused by the rupture of the organ or surrounding vessels.
What organs are more commonly injured?
Liver and spleen.
What are types of abdominal injuries?
Solid organ, hollow organ, retroperitoneal organ, pelvic organ and vascular injury.
What is a solid organ injury?
Results in rapid and significant blood loss
Liver and spleen are both sources of exsanguinations.
When are liver injuries suspected?
Steering wheel injury, lap belt injury or history of epigastric trauma.
What are suspected spleen injuries?
MVC’s, falls, sport injuries, any impact to lower left chest, flank or upper left abdomen.
What is a hollow organ injury?
Sepsis, wound infection and abcess formation.
Stomach is usually protected during blunt mechanisms due to location.
What is a retroperitoneal organ injury?
It can sustain injury to the anterior abdomen, posterior abdomen or thoracic spine.
What is a pelvic organ injury?
MVC’s that produce pelvic fractures
Penetrating trauma
Pedestrian accidents
Some sexual acts
Straddle type injuries from falls.
What is a vascular structure injury?
Major vessels injured are -
Aorta, inferior vene cava, renal, mesentricz iliac arteries and veins.
Carries a hugh mortality rate if not surgically removed after the event.
