Abdominal Injury

The abdominal cavity contains solid organs like the liver and the spleen and hollow organs.

Different organs react in different ways when subjected to trauma, thus presenting different symptoms.

Signs and symptoms

Trauma related injury:

  • No wound

  • Possible internal bleeding, pale, cold, clammy skin

  • Pain in the stomach

  • Feeling sick in the stomach

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Pale, cold skin

  • Red flushed skin – infection

  • Evidence of bleeding or obvious injury, embedded objects, protruding organs

Non trauma related:

  • Right lower abdominal pain, evidence of mild fever – appendix

  • Right upper abdominal pain – gallstones

  • Referred back pain – kidneys

  • Severe tearing mid/upper abdominal pain - artery tear

  • Severe right or left lower abdominal pain in a female casualty - possible ectopic pregnancy

First aid

Check responses, assess for shock.

Call an ambulance and monitor until the ambulance arrives for the following:

  • For shock: lay casualty down, keep still and warm.

  • For severe pain: assist casualty into a comfortable position, flexed knees may help reduce pain, do not allow to eat or drink, even though they may feel extreme hunger or thirst.

  • No wound: if the abdominal injury does not cause an open wound, lie the casualty flat with knees bent and treat as for shock until medical help arrives.

  • Bleeding: control bleeding using direct pressure or bandages.

  • Embedded object: leave it in place, pad around the object.

  • Protruding organs.

  • Do not push back into the abdominal cavity.

  • Lie the casualty flat with their knees bent.

  • Cover the organs with a moist, sterile dressing composed of material that will not stick to the affected organs.

  • Plastic wrap may be used if no alternative.

Precautions - gauze can stick if it is dry - be careful to keep normal gauze moist if used. Avoid paper products like paper towel or toilet paper they will turn to pulp, causing major complications.

Meirav Dulberg