28: Abdomen and Genitalia Injuries
Cognitive Objectives
1. State the steps in the emergency medical care of a
patient with a blunt or penetrating abdominal injury.
2. Describe how solid and hollow organs can be injured.
3. State the steps in the emergency medical care of a
patient with an object impaled in the abdomen.
4. State the steps in the emergency medical care of a
patient with an abdominal evisceration wound.
5. State the steps in the emergency medical care of a
patient with a genitourinary injury.
Psychomotor Objectives
6. Demonstrate proper treatment of a patient who has
an object impaled in the abdomen.
7. Demonstrate how to apply a dressing to an
abdominal evisceration wound.
• There are no affective objectives for this chapter.
• All of the objectives in this chapter are
noncurriculum objectives.
Hollow Organs in the
Abdominal Cavity
Signs of Peritonitis
• Abdominal pain
• Tenderness
• Muscle spasm
• Diminished bowel sounds
• Nausea/vomiting
• Distention
Solid Organs in the
Abdominal Cavity
Abdominal Quadrants
The abdominal cavity is divided into four quadrants.
Injuries of the Abdomen
• Closed injury
– Severe blows that
damage abdomen
without breaking
skin
• Open injury
– Foreign body
enters abdomen
and opens
peritoneal cavity to
outside
Signs and Symptoms
of Abdominal Injury
• Pain
• Tachycardia
• Decreased blood pressure
• Pale, cool, moist skin
• Firm abdomen on palpation
• Bruising
Blunt Abdominal Wounds
• Severe bruises of the • Rupture or tearing of
abdominal wall the kidneys
• Laceration of the liver • Rupture of the bladder
and spleen • Severe intra-abdominal
• Rupture of the intestine hemorrhage
• Tears in the mesentery • Peritoneal irritation and
inflammation
Care of Blunt Abdominal Wounds
• Place patient on backboard.
• Protect airway.
• Monitor vital signs.
• Administer oxygen.
• Treat for shock.
• Provide prompt transport.
Seat Belts and Airbags
• If used inappropriately, seat belts may cause
injuries.
• Frontal airbags provide protection only during
head-on collisions.
Seat Belt Positions
A B
The proper position of a seat belt is below the
anterior superior iliac spines and against the hip
joints (C). A and B show incorrect positions.
Care for Penetrating Injuries
• Inspect patient’s back
and sides for exit
wounds.
• Apply a dry, sterile
dressing to all open
wounds.
• If the penetrating object
is still in place, apply a
stabilizing bandage
around it to control
bleeding and minimize
movement.
Abdominal Evisceration
• Internal organs or fat
protrude through the
open wound.
• Never try to replace
organs.
• Cover the organs with a
moist gauze, then secure
with a dressing.
• Organs must be kept
warm and moist.
• Transport promptly.
Treatment for Evisceration
A B
C D
• You and your EMT-B partner are dispatched for a
person hit in the abdomen by a flying piece of
broken glass.
• You arrive and quickly determine that the scene is
safe and no additional resources are required.
You are the provider
• What is the mechanism of injury? Is this
significant?
• What are your safety considerations? You are the provider
continued
Scene Size-up
• Observe for hazards and threats to your safety.
• If dispatch indicates a possible assault, domestic
dispute, or drive-by shooting, be sure that law
enforcement has controlled the scene.
• Determine if additional resources are needed.
• You find a 28-year-old man who is alert and
oriented.
• A large piece of glass broke and hit him in the
abdomen.
• He is anxious, lying on the ground with his hands
over his lower left quadrant.
• Patent airway with equal chest rise; good breath
sounds bilaterally. Rapid pulse.
• You see obvious bleeding in his abdominal
You are the provider region.
continued
• Describe the steps of initial assessment.
• Are there any life-threatening conditions that you
will address? You are the provider continued (2 of 3)
• What care will you provide to treat breathing?
• You ensure that his airway is open. No noted
abnormalities.
• DCAP-BTLS is unremarkable.
• You check for a distal pulse. It is rapid. Bleeding is
noted and controlled.
• You start oxygen with a nonrebreathing mask due
to patient’s shock status. You are the provider continued (3
• High-priority transport of 3)
Initial Assessment
• Evaluate and immediately care for ABCs.
• Most abdominal injuries will be subtle.
• Trauma may have occurred hours or days earlier
and the pain just became bad enough to seek help.
• Ask about previous injuries associated with the
chief complaint.
• Note patient position.
ABCs
• Consider spinal immobilization.
• Ensure patent airway; keep airway clear of vomitus.
• Consider use of a BVM device.
• Trauma to the kidneys, liver, and spleen can cause
significant internal bleeding.
• Evaluate and treat for shock.
• Cover wounds and control bleeding.
Transport Decision
• Rapid on-scene time and quick transport are
generally indicated.
• Specific injuries are difficult to identify in the
prehospital environment.
You are the provider continued (1 of
2)
• You perform a rapid physical exam.
• You remove the patient’s shirt and find a 4.5˝
laceration with a moderately sized section of
intestine protruding, which is visible.
• How would you treat this wound?
• If the shirt were stuck to the wound, what would
you do? You are the provider continued (2 of 2)
• After the rapid physical exam, what is the next
step?
Focused History and Physical Exam (1 of 2)
• Expose injured regions.
• Provide privacy as needed.
• Allow patient to stay in position of comfort if there is
no suspected spinal injury.
• Use DCAP-BTLS.
• Swelling may indicate significant abdominal injury.
• In pediatric patients, the liver and spleen are more
easily injured.
Focused History and Physical Exam (2 of
2)
• Inspect skin for wounds.
• Size of wound does not always correspond to
extent of injury.
• If you find an entry wound, look for an exit wound.
• Stabilize an impaled object with supportive
bandaging.
• Be professional to help reduce patient’s anxiety.
• Obtain baseline vital signs.
• Obtain SAMPLE history.
Interventions
• Manage airway and breathing problems.
• Provide complete spinal stabilization if spinal
injuries are suspected.
• Treat aggressively for shock.
• If an evisceration is discovered, place a moist,
sterile dressing over the wound.
• Never push an evisceration back into the abdomen.
• Cover bleeding injuries to genitalia with moist,
sterile dressing.
• Do not delay transport.
• The SAMPLE history indicates no allergies, no
meds, and no prior medical history.
• Patient stated he felt a cutting sensation and saw
bleeding. You are the provider continued (1 of 2)
• Stated he last ate 3 hours ago.
• Pulse 120 beats/min; respirations 22 breaths/min;
BP 120/80 mm Hg
• You cover the evisceration with a saline-moistened
dressing per your local protocol.
• Within a minute, the paramedics arrive and assume
care.
• What is the significance of when the patient ate last
in his current situation? You are the provider continued (2 of 2)
• What is the patient’s shock status?
• If the medics were delayed, what would you do?
Detailed Physical Exam
• Conduct as time permits.
Ongoing Assessment
• Repeat initial assessment and reassess vital signs.
• Communication and documentation.
– Communicate the MOI.
– Radio report will depend on local protocols.
– If assault is suspected, you may have a legal
requirement to inform the hospital staff of your
suspicion.
Anatomy of the
Genitourinary System
Injuries of the Kidney (1 of 2)
• Suspect kidney damage if patient has a history or
physical evidence of:
– Abrasion, laceration, or contusion in the flank
– A penetrating wound in the region of the lower
rib cage or upper abdomen
– Fractures on either side of the lower rib cage or
of the lower thoracic or lumbar vertebrae
– A hematoma in the flank region
Injuries of the Kidney (2 of 2)
Kidney injuries may result
from a direct blow, such
as in a tackle in
football.
Injury of the Urinary Bladder (1 of 2)
• Either a blunt or penetrating injury can rupture the
bladder.
• Urine will spill into the surrounding tissues.
• Suspect if you see blood at the urethral opening or
physical signs of trauma on the lower abdomen,
pelvis, or perineum.
• Monitor vitals signs.
• The presence of associated injuries or shock will
dictate the urgency of transport.
Injury of the Urinary Bladder (2 of 2)
Fracture of the pelvis can result in a laceration of
the bladder.
Male Reproductive System
Care for Injury to the
External Male Genitalia
• These injuries are painful. Make the patient
comfortable.
• Use sterile, moist compresses to cover areas
stripped of skin.
• Apply direct pressure to control bleeding.
• Never manipulate any impaled objects.
• Identify and bring avulsed parts to the hospital.
Female Reproductive System
Care for Injuries of the
Female Genitalia (1 of 2)
• Female internal genitalia is well protected and usually
not injured.
• The exception is the pregnant uterus which is
vulnerable to both blunt and penetrating injuries.
– Keep in mind that the unborn child is also at risk.
– Expect to see signs and symptoms of shock.
– Provide all necessary support.
– Transport promptly.
Care for Injuries of the
Female Genitalia (2 of 2)
• Injuries to the external genitalia are very painful but
not life threatening.
• Treat lacerations, abrasions, and avulsions with
moist, sterile compresses.
• Use local pressure and a diaper-type bandage to
hold the dressing in place.
• The urgency of transport will be determined by the
associated injuries, amount of hemorrhage, and the
presence of shock.
Rectal Bleeding
• Common complaint
• Blood may appear in undergarments or may be
passed during a bowel movement.
• Can be caused by sexual assault, hemorrhoids,
colitis, or ulcers of the digestive tract
• Acute bleeding should never be passed off as
something minor.
• Pack the crease between the buttocks with
compresses and consult with medical control.
Sexual Assault
• Do not examine genitalia unless there is obvious
bleeding.
• The patient should not wash the area, defecate,
eat, or drink until examined.
• Offer to call the local rape crisis center.
• Document carefully and preserve evidence.