Diagnosis of acute abdominal injuries in patients with spinal shock: Value of diagnostic peritoneal lavage

Phillip A. Tibbs, A. Byron Young, Brack A. Bivins, Charles R. Sachatello

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Loss of sensory, motor, and reflex function during spinal shock obscures the usual signs of significant blunt abdominal trauma. In a retrospective study of ten acutely quadriplegic patients, initial physical findings, vital signs, and hematocrit determinations were not found to be helpful in detecting intraabdominal injury. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage was an accurate indicator of the presence or absence of significant intraperitoneal hemorrhage in all ten cases in this series.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)55-57
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of Trauma
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1980

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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