Abdominal Trauma Flashcards
(41 cards)
What might damage to hollow organs result in?
Hemorrhage and spillage of their contents into the retroperitoneal, peritoneal, or pelvic spaces
___ organs such as the spleen, liver, pancreas, and kidneys are also subject to ___ and ___ trauma.
Solid ; blunt ; penetrating
What is evisceration?
Protrusion of organs from a wound
What is hematochezia?
Blood in the stool
What is hematemesis?
Vomiting of blood
What is hematuria?
Blood in the urine
___ organs like the stomach, small bowel, large bowel, rectum, urinary bladder, gallbladder, and pregnant uterus may rupture with compression from ___ forces, especially if the organ is full and ___.
hollow ; blunt ; distended
How is the liverr restrained from forward motion?
By the ligamentum teres
What happens to the liver during sever deceleration?
Weight of the liver forces it into the ligament, causing shear forces, laceration, and hemorrhage
What is peritonitis and the two cause mechanisms?
It is the inflammation of the peritoneum and is caused by chemical and bacterial irritation.
What is bacterial peritonitis?
Irritation due to infection, which is often released into the space by a torn bowel or open wound
What is chemical peritonitis?
Occurs more quickly because of caustic nature of digestive enzymes and acids (from stomach or duodenum), and (to a lesser degree) urine quickly irritate the peritoneum and induce the inflammatory response
What are the S/S of peritonitis?
- Progressive
- Usually begins with a slight tenderness at location of injury
- Overtime, the area of inflammation expands as does the area of tenderness
What is rebound tenderness?
Pain on release of examiner’s hands, allowing the patient’s abdominal wall to return to its normal position; associated with peritoneal irritation
What is guarding?
Protective tensing of the abdomen muscles by a patient suffering abdominal pain; may be voluntary or involuntary response
When is the greatest risk for injury during pregnancy?
3rd trimester
Whilea pregnant mother is somewhat protected from hypovolemia, the __ is not so protected.
Fetus
What is abruptio placentae?
Condition in which the placenta separates from the uterine wall
T or F. The internal damage correlates well to the appearance of the entrance or exit wound.
False - it does not; many factors can impact the internal damage (i.e. bouncing off a bone) because of the energy exchange characteristics
The abdomen may contain up to ___ liters of blood before distention becomes noticeable.
1.5
Abnormal pulsations in the abdomen suggest ___ injury.
arterial
___ for bowel sounds is not recommended during assessment of the ___ trauma patient.
Auscultation ; abdominal
Why are pregnant women more likely to have delayed S/S of hypovolemia?
Because maternal blood volume increases by up to 45% in the third trimester, so blood loss an exceed 30% before S/S reveal themselves
How should you care for abdominal trauma in pregnant women?
- Watch for earliest signs of shock
- Place on left side to prevent compression of the inferior vena cava