Abdominal trauma

Source: AMBOSS

This course is presented by an AI Avatar.

This lecture is about abdominal trauma, covering its causes, severity, diagnostic approaches, and the importance of effective emergency management, including damage control surgery in critical cases.
At the end of this lecture, two case examples will be discussed to enhance understanding.

Course structure

1. Mechanisms of Injury
2. Diagnostic Steps for Abdominal trauma
3. Therapeutic Decision
4. Special Patient Groups and Cases

Summary

Abdominal trauma refers to injuries resulting from blunt or penetrating forces to the abdomen. Blunt trauma is commonly caused by falls or traffic accidents, while penetrating injuries, are caused by gunshots or stab wounds. The severity of abdominal trauma varies widely, ranging from minor contusions to life-threatening vascular injuries and polytrauma. Severe cases with massive bleeding are associated with high mortality, making efficient emergency room management crucial. Diagnostic tools include ultrasound, X-ray, and CT scans, but in unstable patients, immediate treatment takes priority over imaging. In such cases, an exploratory laparotomy is typically performed as part of damage control surgery, focusing on bleeding and contamination control. A staged surgical approach may be necessary for definitive management.