Splenic Injury and Hemoperitoneum in Blunt Trauma
3 Comments Published by JonMikel, M.D. August 3rd, 2006 in Continuing Medical Education, Fast Facts, Medical ImagesThe following pictures are from different clinical cases.
In Blunt Trauma the spleen and the liver are injuried in 40 and 20 percent, respectively.
In the ER, you have three four options in the Work-Up of a patient with blunt abdominal trauma
- Peritoneal Lavage: Now just performed if you haven’t access to ultrasound (lack of money or lack of trained personnel). It’s indicated in specific cases, as in patients with cranial trauma, spinal trauma, for example.
- Ultrasound (a.k.a. FAST or Focused Abdominal Ultrasound for Trauma): This is one of the most used techniques, and should be performed for those patients hemodynamically unstables who can’t go to the coputed tomography room.
- Computed Tomography: This technique has a magnific resolution for spleen, liver and vessels. Excellent evaluation for retroperitoneum. It has one inconvenience, hemodinamically unstable patients are not candidates for this analysis.
- Diagnostic Laparoscopy: Almost never recquired.
The controversy is when the hospital is not capable of performing the standarized protocol in blunt abdominal trauma (economic reasons), we doctors have to adequate to the circumstances and do our best effort.
For example, the first two photographs (peritoneal lavage) were taken at the Mexican Red Cross where money is the big problem. The rest, were taken at the ABC Medical Center, a nice private hospital. This are the contrasts of healthcare system and medicine practice in developing countries.
Regards,
Dr. Jon Mikel Iñarritu
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