ABSTRACT
The word abdomen is derived from the Latin abdere, to hide, and the termination, omen, which may be a contraction of omentum or omen in the sense of presage (insight was said to be gained by the ancients during inspection of the abdominal contents). The term has been attributed to Celsus, and first appeared in the English literature in 1541 in a translation of Galen’s “Terapeutyke,” as l’abdomen (1). Decision-making in abdominal trauma revolves around determining if and when surgery is necessary to treat the injuries sustained by organs and blood vessels lying within this hidden cavity. Uncontrolled hemorrhage is the major acute cause of death immediately following abdominal trauma (2). The most common delayed cause of morbidity and mortality following abdominal trauma is sepsis, typically resulting from initial contamination or missed injuries. This chapter describes the management of abdominal trauma relevant to emergency physicians, anesthesiologists, and surgeons involved in resuscitation, intraoperative management, and acute postoperative care.
