Abdominal Trauma Case Study
Introduction
‘Penetrating and blunt abdominal trauma’ is an article published in Critical Care Nursing
Quarterly in the January to March, 2005 issue, written by Kristine L. Eckert. In this article,
Kristine Eckert provides an overview of abdominal trauma related to penetrating and blunt mechanisms of injury. There are different case studies provided to illustrate interventions and treatments of different types of trauma. This article also provides an overview of the anatomy and physiology of the different organ systems, with complications being briefly discussed.
Summary of Article
The abdomen is divided anatomically into the peritoneal space, the retroperitoneal space, and the pelvis. There are both solid and hollow organs …show more content…
50). The differences between penetrating and blunt abdominal trauma and their threat to life are further illustrated in the four case studies discussed in this article. The first two case studies considered penetrating abdominal traumas. In the first case study, a male patient sustains gunshot wounds to his chest, back, and leg. With the gunshot wound, he suffers hemothorax, injuries to his lungs, bilateral kidney, diaphragm, liver and small bowel, laceration of spleen, and tear to the distal end of his esophagus. The second case involves a male victim of a drive-by shooting with two gunshots wound to the right buttock and left lateral thigh. This type of gunshot wound is considered of the transabdominal nature, and the patient is a candidate for immediate surgery; computed tomography (CT) scanning was not completed prior to entry to the Operating Room (OR). With these gunshot wounds, he suffers bladder lacerations, perforation, retroperitoneal hematoma in the right pelvic area, and a gunshot wound to his thigh, which left him with a femur …show more content…
The journal author provides a review of the systems, which was refreshing to one’s memory while reading about each organ and system, thus lending to the article being easily read. The injury grading scales of organs, such as the: liver, spleen, kidney, and pancreas, were clearly graded. This breakdown helps one develop a better understanding of the different injury levels. The abdominal assessment signs are an interesting tool to have, although they are not conclusive in diagnosis.
This writer does not personally work with trauma patients. However, this valuable knowledge can come in handy when exposed to the chance to work with trauma patients. It helps by looking at gunshot injuries and motor vehicle accident injuries from a different perspective.
One must look at a bigger picture and use critical thinking skills, as with all other injuries.
However, it is interesting to know that in both penetrating and blunt abdominal trauma that the genitourinary system has the most common injuries.
This article also includes an assessment of trauma patients with: observation, auscultation, perineum, rectal, and vaginal examinations. This assessment is clearly outlined,
‘Penetrating and blunt abdominal trauma’ is an article published in Critical Care Nursing
Quarterly in the January to March, 2005 issue, written by Kristine L. Eckert. In this article,
Kristine Eckert provides an overview of abdominal trauma related to penetrating and blunt mechanisms of injury. There are different case studies provided to illustrate interventions and treatments of different types of trauma. This article also provides an overview of the anatomy and physiology of the different organ systems, with complications being briefly discussed.
Summary of Article
The abdomen is divided anatomically into the peritoneal space, the retroperitoneal space, and the pelvis. There are both solid and hollow organs …show more content…
50). The differences between penetrating and blunt abdominal trauma and their threat to life are further illustrated in the four case studies discussed in this article. The first two case studies considered penetrating abdominal traumas. In the first case study, a male patient sustains gunshot wounds to his chest, back, and leg. With the gunshot wound, he suffers hemothorax, injuries to his lungs, bilateral kidney, diaphragm, liver and small bowel, laceration of spleen, and tear to the distal end of his esophagus. The second case involves a male victim of a drive-by shooting with two gunshots wound to the right buttock and left lateral thigh. This type of gunshot wound is considered of the transabdominal nature, and the patient is a candidate for immediate surgery; computed tomography (CT) scanning was not completed prior to entry to the Operating Room (OR). With these gunshot wounds, he suffers bladder lacerations, perforation, retroperitoneal hematoma in the right pelvic area, and a gunshot wound to his thigh, which left him with a femur …show more content…
The journal author provides a review of the systems, which was refreshing to one’s memory while reading about each organ and system, thus lending to the article being easily read. The injury grading scales of organs, such as the: liver, spleen, kidney, and pancreas, were clearly graded. This breakdown helps one develop a better understanding of the different injury levels. The abdominal assessment signs are an interesting tool to have, although they are not conclusive in diagnosis.
This writer does not personally work with trauma patients. However, this valuable knowledge can come in handy when exposed to the chance to work with trauma patients. It helps by looking at gunshot injuries and motor vehicle accident injuries from a different perspective.
One must look at a bigger picture and use critical thinking skills, as with all other injuries.
However, it is interesting to know that in both penetrating and blunt abdominal trauma that the genitourinary system has the most common injuries.
This article also includes an assessment of trauma patients with: observation, auscultation, perineum, rectal, and vaginal examinations. This assessment is clearly outlined,