The article deals with penetrating and blunt injury causing abdominal trauma in patients, both male and female. The article is comprehensive with a detailed account of the anatomy as well as the physiology of the various organs of the abdomen and the complications arising in them. Specific injuries related to the organs of the abdomen are discussed through case studies. The article focuses on the injury and damage caused to the organs and the best possible way to asses the injury through the general assessment tools which can be used by nurses in their practice.
The primary focus of the article is the difference between penetrating and blunt abdominal trauma which is done through a series of case studies. The article also provides valuable insight about the structure and functioning of the organs and how damage and trauma to these organs could have a vital impact on the overall functioning of the abdominal system.
The assessment of the initial vital signs by the nurses after the patients arrived for medical assistance has been vividly described. Physical examination procedures have been vividly described which reveal the extent and the exact location of the injuries to the body parts and organs so that damage control surgery can be appropriately conducted by the surgeons. The rationale foe the assessments have been clearly explained so that nurse can examine the ‘vital Signs’ (Lynn, 2009) and “distinguishing entrance and exit wounds and their locations to assist in determining the trajectory of the bullet and what organs may be involved (Pg. 43).
Thorough examination including the “skin fold, the back, the perineum, the axillae, and the buttocks” would indicate the exact location of the wounds so that “plain x-ray films can be taken in hemodynamically stable patients” (Pg. 43).
Through an accurate account of “classic physical findings” (pg. 45) it would be extremely helpful for nurses to record the findings which can be vital for the team in performing the necessary procedures. Through classically and vividly described case studies of injured men and women, the article provides a first hand account of the exact procedures to follow while assessing the patients for the trauma caused to their abdominal organs when they first arrive for medical help.
Evaluation
The article is vivid and highly descriptive presenting a first hand complete analysis of the case studies of the injured men and women. However, case studies regarding children have not been included which makes the article some what incomplete. The article was of particular interest to me since it presents a detailed account of the anatomy and the physiology of the abdominal organs of the human body and the kind of assessments that would be required in cases related to these case studies. Through the case studies, not only does the article present the various assessments to be conducted but also the precise outcome of these assessments with regard to future course of medical actions to be taken by doctors and other members of the trauma control team.
The material presented in the article is completely in tune with my area of interest and expertise, nursing, and as a potential nurse, I would benefit tremendously from the body of information provided in this article.
The health assessment strategies presented in this article are extremely beneficial and would be particularly useful to me as a practicing nurse dealing with patients who have undergone abdominal trauma, so that I would be able to distinguish clearly between penetrating trauma which has severed the internal body organs of the patients and blunt trauma which has caused outer damage to the body but not inner deep damage. This knowledge would be particularly helpful in conducting future assessments procedures like x-rays on the patients to determine the extent and intensity of the damage, if any to the internal abdominal organs.
As a potential nurse, I would definitely adopt the health assessment strategies presented vividly in this article. All the heath assessment strategies in the case studies of the article were clearly explained leaving no room for any doubt or misunderstandings. This article is complete in its analysis of health assessments strategies through the case studies and more articles written like this one would be beneficial to the entire medical community, particularly nurses and doctors. This article applies to the entire medical fraternity but would be of great knowledge and help to nurses and doctors involved in the critical care of patients who have undergone severe abdominal trauma.
Thus, the article through the different case studies of men and women, presents a clear and lucid account of the health assessment procedures to be conducted upon patients with trauma of the abdomen. The article clearly explains the types of assessments to be initiated upon these patients in order to distinguish between blunt and penetrating trauma and the following procedures which need to be conducted after the type of trauma has been established.
References
Kristine Echert (2005). Penetrating and Blunt Abdominal Trauma. Critical Care Nursing Quarterly.
Bickley Lynn S. (2009). Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking, Tenth Edition: International Edition.