Vol.4-Ch.8 "Abdominal and Pelvic Trauma" Flashcards
What are the 3(or4) common mechanisms for blunt abdominal injury?
- Deceleration
- Compression (lap belts in cars are a major cause and special concern)
- shearing
- *crushing is another
The abdomen can be divided into what 3 spaces (also 4 quads)
- peritoneal space
- retroperitoneal space
- pelvic space
What organs are contained in the RUQ? (6)
- Gall bladder
- Right kidney
- most of Liver
- some Small Bowel
- portion of Ascending and Transverse colon (most in LUQ)
- small portion of pancreas (most in LUQ)
What organs are contained in the LUQ? (7)
- Stomach
- Spleen
- Left Kidney
- Most of Pancreas
- portion of liver (most in RUQ)
- small bowel
- transverse and descending colon
What organs are contained in the RLQ? (6)
- Appendix
- Part of urinary bladder
- small bowel
- ascending colon
- rectum
- right ovary (females)
What organs are contained in the LLQ? (6)
- sigmoid colon
- part of urinary bladder
- small bowel
- descending colon
- rectum
- left ovary (females)
How long is the digestive tract and what organs make it?
Briefly descibe function of the:
- Liver
- Gallbladder
- Pancreas
The digestive tract is 25ft long and is the stomach, small bowel (duodenum, jejunum, & ileum), large bowel (colon), rectum, and anus
The LIVER is largest organ in abdomen, detoxifies blood, produces bile, manufactures clotting factors, stores glycogen, and aids in osmotic fluid regulation and produces protein used for clotting
The GALLBLADDER is small and hollow, beneath and behind the liver, stores and concentrates bile until needed and released through the bile duct into the duodenum to help emulsify ingested fats
The PANCREAS is also a solid organ, produces glucagon and insulin, as well as digestive aid enzymes that is dumps into the bile duct just before entering the duodenum
Briefly describe function and location of spleen
It is behind the stomach lateral to left kidney, about the size of the palm, it is very vascular and holds a lot of blood, it aids in the immune system
What are some significant considerations with a pregnant abdomen? (3)
- the uterus is pushing up and later out as it grows, in later stages it extends up enough to press against the diaphragm and REDUCES TIDAL VOLUME
- ANEMIA arises b/c the total cardiac output and HR raises but erythrocyte numbers do not raise much
- As the uterus grows in size and weight it can press on the Inferior Vena Cava, reducing blood flow back to the heart and causing temporary hypotension in a supine pt, also called SUPINE HYPOTENSIVE SYNDROM (which is why you transport them in left lateral recumbent and not supine); it would also engorge the veins at and below the pelvis, causing increased hemorrhaging from pelvic or lower extremity venous ruptures
The abdominal contents receive their blood source ultimately from the _____?
Abdominal Aorta
What is the peritoneum and what does it cover?
What is the visceral peritoneum and what does it cover?
It is a serous membrane similar to pleura of the lungs that covers the anterior and lateral abdominal cavity
Visceral peritoneum covers the individual organs
What two folds of the peritoneum helps support the digestive tract?
The Mesentery is a double folded peritoneum that contains blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, nerves and fatty tissue; it separates the bowel from the posterior abdominal wall.
The Omentum (an additional fold of the mesentery) covers, insulates, and protects the anterior abdominal cavity (differs in size with body fat of person)
What is an evisceration? What is likely to protrude from one to the abdomen?
It is a tear in the abdomen where the abdominal contents can herniate through.
Often the small intestine and omentum herniate through an evisceration
Other than contamination of the eviscerated and herniated organ, what other dangers become present for the organ?
- cut off circulation
- bowel obstruction
- drying
What are 3 big signs that there is damage to hollow organs?
- Hematochezia (poop)
- Hematemesis (vomit)
- Hematuria (pee)
