Abdominal trauma

Definition:
It is an injury to the abdomen. It may be blunt or penetrating and may involve
damage to the abdominal organs.

Types of Abdominal Trauma:

Penetrating trauma- implies either a gunshot wound (or other high-velocity

missile/fragment), shrapnel or a stab wound has entered the abdominal
cavity

Blunt trauma- result from either compression (secondary to a direct blow or

against a fixed external object - eg, a seat belt), or from deceleration forces.
The liver and spleen are the most frequently damaged organs.

Signs and Symptoms:

Abdominal Pain and Tenderness

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
Hypovolemia
Lap belt marks: Correlate with small intestine rupture
Steering wheelshaped contusions
Ecchymosis involving the flanks (Grey Turner sign) or the umbilicus (Cullen
sign): Indicates retroperitoneal hemorrhage, but is usually delayed for several
hours to days
Abdominal distention
Auscultation of bowel sounds in the thorax: May indicate a diaphragmatic
injury
Abdominal bruit: May indicate underlying vascular disease or traumatic
arteriovenous fistula
Local or generalized tenderness, guarding, rigidity, or rebound tenderness:
Suggests peritoneal injury
Fullness and doughy consistency on palpation: May indicate intra-abdominal
hemorrhage
Crepitation or instability of the lower thoracic cage: Indicates the potential for
splenic or hepatic injuries

Risk Factors:

Drug Study:

Meropenem (Merrem)
Classification: Carbapenem type Antibiotic
Indication: used to treat infections such as bacterial meningitis,
abdominal infections, and complicated skin and soft tissue infections
caused by susceptible organisms.
Side effects: rash, n/v, diarrhea, headache
Omeprazole(Prilosec)
Classification: Proton Pump Inhibitor
Indication: used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD) and other conditions caused by excess stomach acid.
Side effects: n/v, fever, headache, diarrhea, stomach pain
Fluticasone(Flovent)
Classification: Anti-Inflammatory
Indication:Used to help prevent the symptoms of asthma
Side Effects:White patches in the mouth and throat, ear ache, diarrhea,
fever, abdominal pain, shortness of breath
Phenobarbital (Luminal Sodium)
Classification: Barbiturates
Indication: Long-term management of tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures
and partial seizures; status epilepticus, febrile convulsions in young
children
Side Effects: Anxiety, dizziness, n/v, depression, bradycardia,
hypotension

Pathophysiology

NCP