AboutStephen Bernhard Expertise I can assist with answering or finding the answers to questions involving first aid, CPR, emergency first response, and general procedures of the emergency medical services (not specific to any specific organization, but I may be able to shed some light on why they do the things they do).
Experience I am a former EMT-Basic, Police Officer whose duties included medical first response,Basic Life Support and Automated External Defibrillator instructor, Bloodborne pathogens instructor, and I have taught hundreds of students, including hospital, fire and rescue, and police personnel.
Education/Credentials EMT- Basic certification, American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI) and Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI) certified Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor-Trainer, Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy certified. I also own and direct HSTA LLC, a BLS instruction company in Southwest Ohio, which also serves as a certified training center through ASHI and an educational center through ECSI.
Expert: Stephen Bernhard Date: 8/19/2007 Subject: diplaced organs
Question hi, I was wondering why medics always instruct you not to reposition displaced organs and if the wound is abdominal and organs have been displaced, not to try to push them back into place... thank you!
Answer Hi Giulia,
This is a very good and interesting question. You are absolutely right that first aid providers are trained to do this (not push them back in), but are oftentimes not told the specific reasons. Well, here are a couple for this scenario.
When treating a victim with an evisceration (where the abdominal cavity is opened and organs, typically the intestines, protrude out), The general rule of thumb is to cover the area with a sterile dressing. Depending on protocol and which guideline you follow, the addition of sterile water might also be advised. Of course, as you indicate, do not push the organs back in. This may cause the following problems:
-Further traumatic injury to the organs
-Increased risk of infection
-Possibility of causing a stoppage of blood flow which will cause tissue death (tissue strangulation).
Being that there is a small amount of room for a large amount of organs, it is considered best to let the pros handle putting things back in. Each of the three reasons I gave above are potentially fatal and possibly avoidable by allowing the doctors to put the stuff back where it belongs.
Anyway, I hope that this helps answer your question!
Stephen
