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Diseases » Accidental death » Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Accidental death

Accidental death Diagnosis: Book Excerpts

Diagnosis - Blunt and penetrating abdominal injuries

Diagnostic Tests for Accidental death: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about diagnostis of Accidental death.

Blunt and penetrating abdominal injuries: Diagnosis
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

CONFIRMING DIAGNOSIS A history of abdominal trauma, clinical features, and laboratory test results confirm the diagnosis of blunt or penetrating abdominal injury and determine organ damage.

Consider any upper abdominal injury a thoracicoabdominal injury until proven otherwise. Laboratory studies vary with the patient’s condition but usually include:

❑ chest X-rays (preferably done with the patient upright to show free air)

❑ abdominal X-rays

❑ examination of stools and stomach aspirate for blood

❑ blood studies (decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin levels point to blood loss; coagulation studies evaluate hemostasis; white blood cell count is usually elevated but doesn’t necessarily point to infection; type and crossmatch to prepare for a blood transfusion)

❑ arterial blood gas analysis to evaluate respiratory status

❑ serum amylase levels, which may be elevated in pancreatic injury

❑ aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels, which increase with tissue injury and cell death

❑ excretory urography and cystourethrography to detect renal and urinary tract damage

❑ radioisotope scanning and ultrasound to detect liver, kidney, or spleen injury

❑ angiography to detect specific injuries, especially to the kidneys

❑ computed tomography scan to detect abdominal, head, or other injuries

❑ exploratory laparotomy to detect specific injuries when other clinical evidence is incomplete

❑ other laboratory studies to rule out associated injuries

❑ peritoneal lavage with insertion of a lavage catheter to check for blood, GI content, vegetable fibers, and bile. In blunt trauma with equivocal abdominal findings, this procedure helps establish the need for exploratory surgery.

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Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005