Abdominal Trauma and Organ Injury: Key Concepts and Injury Types

What organs are located in the right upper quadrant (RUQ)?

Liver, gallbladder, right kidney, pancreas, duodenum, and transverse colon

What organs are located in the left upper quadrant (LUQ)?

Spleen, stomach, pancreas, left kidney, liver, large intestine

What organs are located in the right lower quadrant (RLQ)?

Cecum, appendix, ascending colon

What organs are located in the left lower quadrant (LLQ)?

Descending colon, sigmoid colon

What is the peritoneum?

A large, continuous serous membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers most of the organs within it

What is the perineum?

A diamond-shaped surface region of the body located between the thighs, spanning from the pubic bone in the front to the tailbone in the back

What is the difference between solid and hollow organs?

Solid organs bleed, while hollow organs spill.

What is the purpose of solid organs?

Filtering and regulatory tasks

What organs are considered solid?

Liver, kidney, spleen, and pancreas

What is the importance of the liver?

Filters blood, produces bile, regulates blood sugar, and stores nutrients

What is the purpose of hollow organs?

Store, process, or transport substances through the body

What organs are considered hollow?

Stomach, intestines, gallbladder, heart, and uterus

What does rebound tenderness indicate?

Inflammation of the peritoneum

What are the signs and symptoms of peritonitis?

Pain, tenderness, guarding, distension, abrasions, visible wounds, ecchymosis, MOI, unexplained shock

What is the main concern with open injuries?

BSA (Body Surface Area) assessment

What percent of blood loss does one palm equal?

1 palm = 1% blood loss

At minimum, how many collisions occur when you fall?

At least two collisions

What is the liver considered in the abdominal cavity?

The largest organ

What is the purpose of the spleen?

Filters blood and helps fight infections

Where is the spleen located in the abdominal cavity?

In the left upper quadrant

How is the spleen most commonly injured?

Due to blunt trauma

How is the stomach most commonly injured?

Due to penetrating trauma

What type of tissue are the intestines wrapped in?

Mesentery

What do penetrating trauma objects include?

Low, medium, and high velocity objects

What can high-velocity objects cause?

Significant tissue damage and larger wound sites

Which wound site is larger, entrance or exit?

Exit wound site is larger

Do you move an immobilized object from a patient?

No, do not move it

What are the two goals of treating abdominal evisceration?

Protect the organs and prevent infection