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Blunt abdominal trauma
Background
Overview
Definition
Blunt abdominal trauma refers to a non-penetrating injury to the abdomen due to direct impact or force without penetration of the abdominal wall.
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Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of blunt abdominal trauma involves the transfer of energy from the external force to the abdominal organs, potentially causing damage such as contusions or ruptures.
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Epidemiology
The incidence of abdominal trauma in Norway is estimated at 7.2 per 100,000 person-years.
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Risk factors
Risk factors that can exacerbate the trauma include the force and direction of the impact, the patient's age and overall health, and the presence of pre-existing conditions.
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Disease course
Clinically, patients may present with abdominal pain, tenderness, distension, and bruising. Other signs may include hypotension, rebound tenderness, and the presence of a seat belt sign. Potential complications include injury to solid organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidneys, which can lead to intra-abdominal bleeding or infection.
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Prognosis and risk of recurrence
The prognosis of blunt abdominal trauma largely depends on the severity of the injury, the organs involved, and the timeliness and effectiveness of the treatment provided.
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Guidelines
Key sources
The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of blunt abdominal trauma are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP 2024,2011), the European Association of Urology (EAU 2024), the Surgical Infection Society (SIS 2024), the Surgical Infection Society Europe (SIS-E/GAIS/WSES/WSIS/AAST 2024), the American Heart Association (AHA/ACC 2022), the World Society ...
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