The Abdomen
Largest Cavity in the body
What is the Abdomen?
Easily overlooked in penetrating traumas
What is the entry wound?
This protect the brain and provides attachment for head and neck muscles
What is the Cranium?
Cover with non-adherent moist, sterile dressing
What is treatment for protruding brain tissue?
The fattest organ in the human body - about 60% fat
What is the brain?
Located immediately below the diaphragm, houses the liver, spleen, stomach, gallbladder, transverse colon
What is the Intrathoracic Abdomen?
Not proportional to entry, May or may not be present
What is the exit wound?
This forms the structure of the face and house sensory organs
What are the Facial bones?
Also known as 'battle's sign'
What is mastoid bruising?
The abdominal cavity is lined with a slippery membrane.
What is the peritoneum?
Located immediately below the lower ribs, houses the large and small intestines, portion of the liver & the bladder
What is the true abdomen?
Cover with sterile, moist dressing then occlusive dressing and tape
What is treatment for abdominal evisceration?
Frontal Lobe, Parietal Lobe, Temporal Lobe, Occipital Lobe
What is the Cerebrum?
Also known as Raccoon eyes
What is periorbital ecchymosis?
' blank' trauma is most commonly caused by bullets or knives
What is penetrating trauma?
Located immediately behind the intrathoracic and true abdomen, houses the kidneys, ureters, pancreas, ascending and descending colon, abdominal aorta and IVC
What is the retroperitoneal Abdomen?
Findings: Amount of Blood loss/fluid loss, type of blood/fluid, object causing protrusion, angle of entry vs. exit
What are scene observations?
Connects the brain to the spinal cord and regulates vital functions such as breathing and heart rate
What is the Brainstem?
1. Increased Systolic Blood pressure
2. Bradycardia
3. Irregular respirations
What is Cushing's Triad?
Consider potential life/limb/function threats, such as
a) rupture, perforation, laceration, or hemorrhage of organs and/or vessels in the abdomen and potentially in the thorax or pelvis, and
b) Spinal cord injury
What is from the BLS standards Blunt/Penetrating Injury Standard?
Most common mechanism of injury causing 10-30% mortality rates
What is blunt trauma?
Hypotension, Increased HR, Pale and clammy skin, Confusion
What is shock?
Does not follow commands, Systolic BP <90mmHg, or respiratory rate <10 or >30 per minute or need for ventilatory support.
What is the physiological Criteria for Field Trauma Triage Standard?
1. Deteriorating GVS <9
2. Dilated and unreactive pupils,
3. Asymmetric pupillary response, or
4. A motor response that shows either unilateral or bilateral decorticate or decerebrate posturing
What are signs of cerebral herniation?
Discovery of a Pulsatile Mass
What is an abdominal aneurysm?