Home>> Intestinal Injury

Here are fundamentals emphasizing intestinal injuries

Meaning and Definition of an intestinal injury

Intestines are instrumental in digesting the food you consume on a daily basis. The pathway of how the intestines are designed, is quite an interesting thing for all of you to know. Your intestine starts off, at the opening of your stomach, ending near the rectum or anus. You find that your body comprises of two forms of intestine. The first part, of the intestinal tract, is your small intestine. Small intestine, in other words, is also known as the small bowel. Large intestine is the other part of your intestinal tract, which is otherwise known as the colon.

Intestines are long, coiled and slender tubes which primarily aid the process of digestion, absorbing nutrients and glucose from the food you eat, and circulating them to the remaining parts of your body. Intestines also help you get rid of wastes present in your body. Small intestine extending up to 20 feet is made up of three layers, namely the duodenum, the ileum and the jejunum. Large intestine or colon extends up to 5 feet. And your food travels through 25 feet of intestines to get digested and then be absorbed by your body.

An intestinal injury occurs after car crashes, falls, bicycle crashes or violence. This is the direct trauma caused to intestines. On the other hand, a potential intestinal injury can also be caused if you are stabbed with a knife or a bullet via a pistol and thus puncture your intestinal tract. The definition, meaning and causes for an intestinal injury have clearly been explained here.

Complications that can arise from an intestinal injury areInternal rupture of tissues within your intestinesIntra-abdominal collection of pus, in other words, formation of abscessesIntestinal blockage or obstructionSpleen injuries andAdjacent organs’ functionality would severely be impactedSymptoms for an intestinal injuryThese are the overall symptoms, you would be experiencing on account of a perennial damage to your intestinal tract. They arePain near the abdomenAnemia (Due to loss of blood on account of internal bleeding from your intestines)Rapid heart ratePale or bluish skinHazy frame of mindDiagnosis of an intestinal injuryThese are the diagnostic evaluations your practitioner will adhere to, in case of a major blow to your intestines. They areUltrasonographyThis means the diagnostic test is done, at the patient’s bed-side. And it is a more convenient way of diagnosis, in case of a severe rupture or thorough internal bleeding.CT scansCT scans require moving the patient’s bed to the scanner and taking away more precise or detailed pictures of the patient’s abdomen.Blood testsA hemoglobin count is revealed via series of blood tests that require to be taken immediately post the injury. This helps the doctor detect, if severe amount of blood has been lost or not.Treatment procedures involvedOnce the patient is admitted to the hospital ward’s emergency center or ICU (Intensive Care Unit) upon an accident, he/she is provided with at least 6-7 bottles of blood. The donor’s blood group need to resemble the blood group of the patient.These are the clinical indications that a patient requires surgical intervention. They areUncontrolled shock or hemorrhage

Deterioration of your pulse rate, upon clinical observationSigns of peritonitis andFindings via sonography or other diagnostic evaluations that a person’s internal organs have completely been damaged

It is a laparotomy that needs to be performed for patients with blunt intestinal injuries.

Medications can also help heal the damaged organs and suppress pain.