Contents

Search


abdominal trauma

Clinical manifestations: 1) abdominal pain 2) signs of peritoneal irritation on physical exam 3) hemodynamic instability Laboratory: 1) complete blood count - hemoglobin/hematocrit - white blood cell count 2) serum chemistries a) serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) b) serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) c) serum lactate dehydrogenase d) serum lipase e) serum creatinine 3) urinalysis Special laboratory: - abdominal ultrasound - initial diagnostic mode in hemodynamically unstable patients - doppler evaluation of the renal arteries - determines need for emergent laparotomy - abdominal ultrasound in the emergency department (bedside focused assessment with sonography for trauma -> FAST) for children with blunt abdominal trauma doesn't seem to improve clinical care or lower costs [1] Radiology: - abdominal computed tomography, IV contrast only Management: - see abdominal pain

Related

abdominal pain Blunt Abdominal Trauma in Children score (BATiC)

General

torso trauma; trunk trauma; injury of thorax, abdomen, &/or pelvis

References

  1. Holmes JF, Kelley KM, Wootton-Gorges SL Effect of Abdominal Ultrasound on Clinical Care, Outcomes, and Resource Use Among Children With Blunt Torso Trauma. A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2017;317(22):2290-2296 PMID: 28609532 http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2631528 - Kessler DO Abdominal Ultrasound for Pediatric Blunt Trauma. FAST Is Not Always Better. JAMA. 2017;317(22):2283-2285 PMID: 28609517 http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2631512