Question
Which of the following statements regarding a patient of liver trauma are correct?
- Liver is the most common organ injured following abdominal trauma.
- Surgical exploration (laparotomy) is required in hemodynamically unstable patients and patients with free intraperitoneal fluid on FAST.
- Contrast-enhanced CT abdomen should be done in hemodynamically stable patients.
- Blunt injuries have a higher mortality as compared to penetrating injuries.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
| A. |
1, 2, and 3 |
| B. |
2, 3, and 4 |
| C. |
1, 3, and 4 |
| D. |
1, 2, and 4 |
Show Answer
|
Correct Answer » A Explanation |
 |
| Statement | Assessment | Clinical Context / Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 1: Liver is the most common organ injured following abdominal trauma. | ✅ True | When evaluating all abdominal trauma (both blunt and penetrating), the liver is the most frequently injured intra-abdominal organ. However, in isolated blunt trauma, the spleen is the most commonly injured solid organ. |
| 2: Laparotomy is required in hemodynamically unstable patients and those with free fluid on FAST. | ✅ True | Unstable vital signs and a positive FAST scan indicating free intraperitoneal fluid demand an immediate trip to the operating room for a trauma laparotomy. |
| 3: CECT abdomen should be done in hemodynamically stable patients. | ✅ True | Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) is the gold standard for evaluating and grading hepatic trauma in hemodynamically stable patients, allowing for safe non-operative management. |
| 4: Blunt injuries have a higher mortality rate than penetrating injuries. | ❌ False | Modern trauma data does not support this blanket statement. Penetrating injuries generally carry higher morbidity and mortality because they often cause major vascular damage and multi-visceral involvement, whereas most blunt liver injuries can be managed conservatively. |