Paramedic Care 4, Chapter 11

Front 1

Injury to the abdomen is often hard to see because why?

Back 1

Because it doesn't present as dramatically as it does elsewhere in the body and often occurs without overt signs.

Front 2

Peritoneal Space

Back 2

Division of the abdominal cavity containing those organs or portions of organs covered by the peritoneum.

Front 3

Retroperitoneal Space

Back 3

Division of the abdominal cavity containing those organs posterior to the peritoneal lining.

Front 4

Pelvic Space

Back 4

Division of the abdominal cavity containing those organs located within the pelvis.

Front 5

Digestive Tract

Back 5

Internal passageway that begins at the mouth and ends at the anus.

Front 6

Chyme

Back 6

Semifluid mixture of inigested food and digestive secretions found in the stomach and small intestine.

Front 7

Peristalsis

Back 7

Wavelike muscular motion of the esophagus and bowel that moves food through the digestive system.

Front 8

What is the most delicate abdominal organ, and its injury may lead to severe hemorrhage.

Back 8

Spleen

Front 9

Supine Hypotensive Syndrome

Back 9

Inadequate return of venous blood to the heart, reduced cardiac output, and lowered blood pressure resulting from pressure on the inferior vena cava by the fetus and uterus late in pregnancy.

Front 10

Peritoneum

Back 10

Fine fibrous tissue surrounding the interior of most of the abdominal cavity and covering most of the abdominal organs.

Front 11

Mesentery

Back 11

Double fold of peritoneum that supports the major portion of the small bowel, suspending it from the posterior abdominal wall.

Front 12

Because the abdomen is bound by muscles rather than skeletal structures, there is a freer transmission of the energy of trauma to the what?

Back 12

Internal organs and structures.

Front 13

Penetrating trauma to the abdomen most frequently involves which organs?

Back 13

The liver and small bowel.

Front 14

Blunt trauma to the abdomen most frequently involves which organs?

Back 14

The spleen and liver.

Front 15

With trauma to the abdomen, the disoloration of ecchymosis and noticeable swelling require what?

Back 15

Several hours to develop.

Front 16

Evisceration

Back 16

A protrusion of organs from a wound.

Front 17

Hematochezia

Back 17

Blood in the stool.

Front 18

Hematemesis

Back 18

The vomiting of blood.

Front 19

Hematuria

Back 19

Blood inthe urine.

Front 20

Most vascular trauma is associated with what?

Back 20

Penetrating Injury

Front 21

Expect a tear of the small bowel to release bowel contents into the peritoneal space, but remember what?

Back 21

That signs and symptoms of such release are delayed.

Front 22

Peritonitis

Back 22

Inflammation of the peritoneum caused by chemical or bacterial irritation.

Front 23

Rebound Tenderness

Back 23

Pain on release of the examiner's hands, allowing the patient's abdominal wall to return to its normal position; associated with peritoneal irritation.

Front 24

Guarding

Back 24

Protective tensing of the abdominal muscles by a patient suffering abdominal pain; may be a voluntary or involuntary response.

Front 25

When assessing the abdomen, be aware that local muscle injury caused by trauma may result in what?

Back 25

May result in local or regional abdominal muscle tenderness and spasm that mimics peritonitis.

Front 26

Trauma is the number one killer of pregnant females and penetrating abdominal trauma alone accounts for what?

Back 26

As much as 36% of overal maternal mortality.

Front 27

In a pregnant patient, who is somewhat protected and who isn't protected from hypovolemia?

Back 27

A pregnant mother is some what protected, however, the fetus is not so protected.

Front 28

Abruptio Placentae

Back 28

A condition in which the placenta seperates from the uterine wall.

Front 29

For a patient who has sustained abdominal injury, what is the most important element of the scene size-up and possibly of the entire assesment?

Back 29

The analysis of the mechanism of injury.

Front 30

The internal damage done by a bullet does not what?

Back 30

Correlate well to the appearance of the entrance or exit wound.

Front 31

With significant blunt or penetrating trauma, suspect what?

Back 31

Serious and continuing internal hemorrhage.

Front 32

How much blood may the abdomen contain before distention becomes noticeable?

Back 32

1.5 Liters

Front 33

Abnormal pulsations in the abdomen suggest what?

Back 33

Aterial Injury

Front 34

Auscultation for bowel sounds is not recommended during assessment of who?

Back 34

Abdominal Trauma Patient

Front 35

A wound should not be identified as an entrance or exit wound on the care report beucause why?

Back 35

Because it is difficult to distinguish the two and there are legal ramifications to misidentification.

Front 36

Any patient with a history of significant blunt or any penetrating trauma to the torso is a candidate for what?

Back 36

Rapid transport to the trauma center.

Front 37

Place a late pregnancy patient on what side and for what reason?

Back 37

Place her on her left side to prevent compression of the inferior vena cava.

Front 38

Another sign of continuing blood loss from an abdominal hemorrhage is what?

Back 38

Fluid resucitation that appears ineffective.

Front 39

What are the 5 ways to manage abdominal injury paitents?

Back 39

Position the patient properly
Ensure oxygenation and venilation
Control external bleeding
Be prepared for aggresive fluid resuscitation
Apply PASG if not contrindicated

Front 40

When a serious mechanism of injury is found and the patient does not present with signs and symptoms of shock, what should you do?

Back 40

Act in anticipation of it.

Front 41

What should you do to impaled objects to prevent further injury and reduce associated hemorrhage?

Back 41

Stabilize

Front 42

Inflate the PASG in increments to maintain blood pressure and pulse, not to return them to what?

Back 42

Preinjury Levels