Abdominal trauma: a general overview of management and trauma areas

By Cristiano Antonino On Aug 3, 2022

Abdominal trauma is extremely common and its basic management follows the principles of ABC and basic wound care

This section will discuss two particular situations involving the abdomen: eviscerations and impaled objects.

ABDOMINAL TRAUMA, EVISCERATION: any injury in which the contents of the abdominal cavity leak from the wound or are removed from the body

The intestine, liver, spleen and stomach are commonly involved in eviscerations.

These injuries are dangerous because they expose the organs to the external environment without protection, with the risk of injury due to dehydration and infection.

MANAGEMENT OF ABDOMINAL TRAUMA:

The management of these injuries focuses on keeping the exposed organs as moist and sterile as possible.

Sterile gauze or abdominal swabs should be irrigated with sterile saline and draped gently over the wound.

Do not attempt to push the abdominal contents into the body cavity: this risks further injury and is unlikely to be successful.

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PENETRATING TRAUMA

IMPALED PATIENT:

A foreign object protruding from the body is managed in the same way as evisceration, regardless of its position.

Impaled objects must never be removed.
Clothing must be cut around the object,
the area must be irrigated and dressed with a voluminous bandage to control bleeding,
seal the wound entrance from further contamination, and
anchor the object in place.

The only modification to this rule is if the patient requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation and a stuck object prevents chest compressions on the sternum.