Comments | science_beta: Medical question: bullet wound

noctuabunda in science_beta

Medical question: bullet wound

Nov 09, 2007 14:25

First of all, I just want to say I'm glad this comm is still around! Thanks for not deleting it.
And now, for my question referring - once again - to a bullet wound.

( Because I seem to like getting people shot... )

health science

Comments 4

randomxinsanity November 10 2007, 01:20:03 UTC

I'll do my best to answer all of your questions. ;)

As far as I know, the liver is one of the most... "robust" human organs, so does that mean that the patient would recuperate quickly? How quick?

Yes, the liver is very resilient. You can lose function to half of it an still lead a fairly normal life. What most people experience with liver injury is pain and weakness. Depending on how much liver is involved, recuperation can last anywhere from a week or so to several months.

Also, there are a lot of important arteries (veins?) running through it, so it would bleed a lot, right?Absolutely! Actually, there are more "other things" running through the liver than there are arteries. The portal vein provides about 2/3 of the blood supply to the liver, the rest is from the hepatic arteries. The hepatic veins drain the liver to the inferior vena cava. Then you have the bile ducts. The liver makes bile (which helps digest fats) and drains it via bile ducts to the gallbladder and ultimately to the intestines. You really don't want ( ... )

noctuabunda November 12 2007, 23:16:08 UTC

Wow, thank you so much for your detailed answer! You've already been a big help.

However, the more I know the more I want to know, so I hope you won't mind my next few questions:

I've written that he has some damage to his liver and his intestines, but all in all he's been lucky (small damage, no sepsis). But he would still get the colostomy, right? Could you maybe just give me a kind of timetable? What I'd like to know is:

a) How long is he going to have the colostomy? (And how is it removed? It doesn't
smell, does it?)
b) How long is he going to stay in the hospital?
c) How long is he going to be unable to work?

Also, this might help you with your answer: The victim is Casey from Chuck - just your regular big tough guy, healthy and pretty strong. His work - at least the cover, he's a secret agent - is a sales clerk, so not too physically demanding. I guess it'll take him longer to get back to regular missions, though ( ... )

randomxinsanity November 13 2007, 02:20:43 UTC

So it sounds like his liver will be just fine. =) If the damage is to the colon, and there is spillage from it being torn in two parts or having a large hole (which is most of the time in the colon) then yes, he'd get the colostomy. If the injury, however, is just a nick in the colon (say, less than 1 inch) it could actually be repaired and he wouldn't need a colostomy. If the injury is to the small intestine, then the injured area would be cut out and the ends sewn back together. With or without the colostomy, the course after surgery is basically the same, provided there are no complications that develop ( ... )

noctuabunda November 13 2007, 19:49:51 UTC

They absolutely did, thank you so much! :D