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Liver injury

A liver injury, also known as liver laceration, is some form of trauma sustained to the liver. This can occur through either a blunt force such as a car accident, or a penetrating foreign object such as a knife. Liver injuries constitute 5% of all traumas, making it the most common abdominal injury. Generally nonoperative management and observation is all that is required for a full recovery. A liver injury, also known as liver laceration, is some form of trauma sustained to the liver. This can occur through either a blunt force such as a car accident, or a penetrating foreign object such as a knife. Liver injuries constitute 5% of all traumas, making it the most common abdominal injury. Generally nonoperative management and observation is all that is required for a full recovery. Given its anterior position in the abdominal cavity and its large size, it is prone to gun shot wounds and stab wounds. Its firm location under the diaphragm also makes it especially prone to shearing forces. Common causes of this type of injury are blunt force mechanisms such as motor vehicle accidents, falls, and sports injuries. Typically these blunt forces dissipate through and around the structure of the liver and causes irreparable damage to the internal microarchitecture of the tissue. With increasing velocity of the impact, the internal damage of the liver tissue also exemplifies - even though the tissue itself is mechanically and micro-structurally isotropic. A large majority of people who sustain this injury also have another accompanying injury. Imaging, such as the use of ultrasound or a computed tomography scan, is the generally preferred way of diagnosis as it is more accurate and is sensitive to bleeding, however; due to logistics this is not always possible. For a person who is hemodynamically unstable a focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) scan may take place which is used to find free floating fluid in the right upper quadrant and left lower quadrant of the abdomen. The FAST scan however may not indicated in those who are obese and those with subcutaneous emphysema. Its speed and sensitivity to injuries resulting in 400mL of free-floating fluid make it a valuable tool in the evaluation of unstable persons. Computed tomography is another diagnostic study which can be performed, but typically is only used in those who are hemodynamically stable. A physical examination may be used but is typically inaccurate in blunt trauma, unlike in penetrating trauma where the trajectory the projectile took can be followed digitally. A diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) may also be utilized but has limited application as it is hard to determine the origin of the bleeding. A diagnostic peritoneal lavage is generally discouraged when FAST is available as it is invasive and non-specific. Liver injuries are classified on a Roman numeral scale with I being the least severe, to VI being the most severe. Generally any injury ≥III requires surgery. The initial management of liver trauma generally follows the same procedures for all traumas with a focus on maintaining airway, breathing, and circulation. A physical examination is a corner stone of the assessment of which there are various non-invasive means of diagnostic tools that can be utilized. An invasive diagnostic peritoneal lavage can also be used to diagnose and classify the extent of the damage. A large majority of liver injuries are minor and require only observation. Generally if there is estimated to be less than 300mL of free floating fluid, no injury to surrounding organs, and no need for blood transfusion, there is a low risk of complication from nonoperative management. In special cases where there is a higher risk with surgery, such as in the elderly, nonoperative management would include the infusion of packed red blood cells in an intensive care unit. Typically hepatic injuries resulting from stab wounds cause little damage unless a vital part of the liver is injured, such as the hepatic portal vein; with gunshot wounds, the damage is worse. In severe liver injuries (class ≥III), or those with hemodynamic instability, surgical correction is generally necessary. In these severe injuries a hepatopancreatobiliary surgeon may be utilized rather than a trauma surgeon given their expertise with the organ and generally yields better outcomes. Surgical techniques such as perihepatic packing or the use of the Pringle manoeuvre can be used to control hemorrhage. Temporary control of the hemorrhage can be accomplished through direct manual pressure to the wound site. In these severe cases it is important to prevent the progression of the trauma triad of death, which often requires the utilization of damage control surgery. The common cause of death while operating is exsanguination caused by profuse loss of blood volume. Rarely, surgery entails the use of liver resection, which removes the source of the bleeding and necrotic tissue. The drastic nature of this procedure means it can only be used in hemodynamically stable patients. Another rare procedure would be liver transplantation which is typically impractical due to the logistics of finding a proper organ donor in a timely fashion.

[ "Diabetes mellitus", "Biochemistry", "Pharmacology", "Endocrinology", "Internal medicine", "Decreased alt", "Hy's law", "Hydroxycut", "Acute liver inflammation", "Hepatoprotective Agent" ]
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