Condition Lookup

Liver laceration

Symptoms:
right upper quadrant pain; abdominal tenderness; signs of internal bleeding (e.g., hypotension, tachycardia); nausea; vomiting; ecchymosis over the abdomen

Root Cause:
Traumatic damage to the liver caused by blunt force trauma, often resulting in bleeding and disruption of hepatic tissue.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination, focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST), contrast-enhanced CT scan, and laboratory tests (e.g., hemoglobin levels, liver enzymes).

Treatment:
Management depends on severity. Minor lacerations may be managed conservatively with observation and fluid resuscitation. Severe cases may require surgical intervention (e.g., laparotomy, hemostasis, or liver packing).

Medications:
Pain relief medications such as acetaminophen or opioids for severe pain. In cases of infection risk, prophylactic antibiotics like ceftriaxone (cephalosporin class) may be used.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in patients with blunt abdominal trauma; occurs in approximately 15-20% of such cases.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Motor vehicle collisions, falls from significant heights, sports injuries, or assaults involving blunt force to the abdomen.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Favorable in minor cases with proper treatment; severe lacerations carry a higher risk of mortality due to hemorrhage or associated injuries.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hemorrhagic shock, bile leakage, peritonitis, abscess formation, sepsis.

Splenic rupture

Specialty: Trauma and Injuries

Category: Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Sub-category: Solid Organ Injuries

Symptoms:
left upper quadrant pain; kehr's sign (referred pain to the left shoulder); abdominal distension; hypotension; tachycardia; nausea; vomiting

Root Cause:
Splenic parenchymal and capsule disruption due to blunt trauma, leading to internal bleeding and potential hemodynamic instability.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, FAST scan, contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen, and monitoring of hemoglobin levels.

Treatment:
Non-operative management with close monitoring and bed rest in stable cases. Unstable cases may require splenectomy or splenic repair surgery.

Medications:
Pain management with acetaminophen or NSAIDs. Post-splenectomy patients may require prophylactic vaccines against encapsulated bacteria (e.g., pneumococcal, meningococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in approximately 25-30% of blunt abdominal trauma cases, making it the most commonly injured organ.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Blunt abdominal trauma from vehicle collisions, falls, or contact sports.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good in stable cases with non-operative management; splenectomy patients have an increased lifelong risk of infections (overwhelming post-splenectomy infection, OPSI).

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hemorrhagic shock, infection, OPSI, abscess formation.

Kidney contusion/laceration

Specialty: Trauma and Injuries

Category: Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Sub-category: Solid Organ Injuries

Symptoms:
flank pain; hematuria (blood in urine); ecchymosis over the flank (grey-turner sign); abdominal or back tenderness; signs of shock in severe cases

Root Cause:
Trauma to the renal parenchyma or blood vessels, often leading to bleeding, urine leakage, or vascular injury.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Urinalysis, FAST, contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen, and renal ultrasound.

Treatment:
Conservative management with rest, hydration, and monitoring for minor injuries. Severe lacerations may require surgical repair or nephrectomy.

Medications:
Pain relief with acetaminophen or opioids. Prophylactic antibiotics like ciprofloxacin (fluoroquinolone class) in cases of urinary tract infection or surgery.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in approximately 10% of blunt abdominal trauma cases.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
High-impact trauma such as car accidents, direct blows, or falls.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Favorable in minor cases; severe cases may lead to loss of renal function or other complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hemorrhagic shock, perinephric abscess, chronic kidney damage, hypertension.

Pancreatic injury

Specialty: Trauma and Injuries

Category: Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Sub-category: Solid Organ Injuries

Symptoms:
epigastric pain; nausea; vomiting; signs of peritonitis (in severe cases); elevated serum amylase or lipase

Root Cause:
Disruption or contusion of the pancreas caused by blunt trauma, leading to leakage of pancreatic enzymes and tissue inflammation.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination, serum amylase and lipase levels, CT scan with contrast, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in select cases.

Treatment:
Mild cases managed with bowel rest, hydration, and monitoring. Severe injuries may require surgical drainage, debridement, or partial pancreatectomy.

Medications:
Pain management with opioids. Antibiotics like piperacillin-tazobactam (penicillin class) for associated infections or abscesses.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, occurring in less than 5% of blunt abdominal trauma cases.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Blunt force trauma from vehicle collisions, bicycle handlebars, or direct abdominal impacts.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; minor injuries have good outcomes, but severe injuries can result in significant morbidity.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Pancreatic fistula, abscess formation, pseudocyst, diabetes mellitus, sepsis.

Intestinal perforation

Specialty: Trauma and Injuries

Category: Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Sub-category: Hollow organ injuries

Symptoms:
severe abdominal pain; fever; nausea; vomiting; abdominal distension; tenderness; guarding; rebound tenderness

Root Cause:
A tear or hole in the wall of the intestines that leads to leakage of intestinal contents into the abdominal cavity, causing peritonitis and infection.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination, imaging studies like X-rays (showing free air under the diaphragm), CT scans, blood tests showing elevated white blood cells (leukocytosis), and exploratory surgery.

Treatment:
Emergency surgery (laparotomy or laparoscopy) to repair the perforation, clean the abdominal cavity, and address any infection.

Medications:
Broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as piperacillin-tazobactam or ceftriaxone with metronidazole , are prescribed to manage infections. These are classified as antibacterial agents. Pain relievers and IV fluids may also be administered.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in cases of trauma, infections, or gastrointestinal conditions like peptic ulcers or diverticulitis. Exact prevalence varies by the underlying cause.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Abdominal trauma, gastrointestinal conditions (e.g., Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, or cancer), infections, foreign body ingestion, and certain medications like NSAIDs.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Favorable with prompt treatment but worsens with delays, leading to life-threatening sepsis.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Peritonitis, sepsis, abscess formation, multi-organ failure, and death if untreated.

Stomach rupture

Specialty: Trauma and Injuries

Category: Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Sub-category: Hollow organ injuries

Symptoms:
severe upper abdominal pain; abdominal swelling; nausea; vomiting; hematemesis (vomiting blood); hypotension; shock

Root Cause:
A breach in the stomach wall, often due to blunt trauma, increased gastric pressure, or penetrating injuries, leading to leakage of gastric contents into the abdominal cavity.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Imaging (X-rays showing free air under the diaphragm), CT scan, upper GI endoscopy, and clinical symptoms indicative of peritonitis or shock.

Treatment:
Emergency surgical intervention to repair the rupture and clean the abdominal cavity. Postoperative care includes infection control and nutritional support.

Medications:
Broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone or meropenem , combined with metronidazole to prevent infection. These are classified as antibacterial agents. Proton pump inhibitors (e.g., pantoprazole or omeprazole ) may be prescribed to reduce stomach acid and promote healing. Pain relief medications (e.g., opioids or acetaminophen ) are also used.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare but associated with significant blunt trauma (e.g., motor vehicle accidents) or extreme gastric distension (e.g., binge eating with vomiting).

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Blunt abdominal trauma, excessive gastric distension, gastric ulcers, ingestion of corrosive substances, or prior gastric surgeries.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With prompt surgical treatment, survival is high; delays increase risk of sepsis and death.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Peritonitis, sepsis, hemorrhage, abscess formation, and multi-organ failure.

Retroperitoneal Hematoma

Specialty: Trauma and Injuries

Category: Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Symptoms:
abdominal pain; flank pain; back pain; bruising around the flank (grey-turner's sign); hemodynamic instability (e.g., low blood pressure); nausea and vomiting; abdominal distension

Root Cause:
Blood accumulation in the retroperitoneal space due to trauma or injury to retroperitoneal structures (e.g., kidneys, adrenal glands, aorta, or major vessels). Causes may include blunt force trauma, pelvic fractures, or ruptured aneurysms.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis involves clinical examination and imaging studies. CT scan with contrast is the gold standard for visualizing retroperitoneal bleeding and identifying the source. Ultrasound (FAST) may provide initial clues in trauma settings. Blood tests may reveal anemia or coagulopathy.

Treatment:
Management depends on the severity and cause. Mild cases may involve monitoring and supportive care, while severe cases may require surgical intervention, such as exploratory laparotomy or angiographic embolization to control bleeding.

Medications:
Medications are supportive and may include - Blood transfusions (if anemia or severe blood loss occurs). IV fluids to maintain blood pressure. Pain relievers like acetaminophen or opioids for severe pain. Antibiotics if infection is suspected due to tissue necrosis or open injuries. Anticoagulant reversal agents (e.g., vitamin K, protamine sulfate) if bleeding is associated with anticoagulant use.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Exact prevalence is unknown but occurs most commonly in patients with blunt trauma, accounting for approximately 15% of abdominal injuries requiring imaging or intervention.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Blunt abdominal trauma; pelvic fractures; anticoagulant use; advanced age; vascular abnormalities (e.g., aneurysms); bleeding disorders; previous abdominal surgery

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis depends on the severity of bleeding and the speed of intervention. Early diagnosis and treatment result in a good prognosis, but severe cases with delayed management can lead to significant morbidity and mortality.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hemorrhagic shock; organ ischemia or failure; infection or abscess formation; compartment syndrome; death (in severe untreated cases)