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Emergency Medicine6 papers

Rupture of jejunum

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Rupture of the jejunum is a severe gastrointestinal emergency characterized by a sudden, often life-threatening perforation leading to peritonitis. Prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention are critical to improve outcomes 4.

Diagnosis

  • Clinical Presentation: Severe abdominal pain, peritoneal signs, and signs of peritonitis 4.
  • Imaging: Abdominal CT or ultrasound to identify free air under the diaphragm, bowel wall thickening, or direct visualization of perforation 4.
  • Laboratory Tests: Elevated white blood cell count, metabolic acidosis, and electrolyte imbalances 4.
  • Management

  • Surgical Intervention: Emergency laparotomy with repair or resection of the perforated jejunum (Evidence: Strong 4).
  • Antibiotics: Broad-spectrum antibiotics to cover intra-abdominal infections (Evidence: Moderate 4).
  • Fluid Resuscitation: Aggressive intravenous fluid replacement to manage hypovolemia and shock 4.
  • Source Control: Ensuring complete removal or management of the source of infection to prevent recurrent sepsis 4.
  • Special Populations

  • Pregnancy: Management principles similar to non-pregnant adults, with additional considerations for fetal well-being and maternal stability 4.
  • Pediatrics: Early surgical intervention is crucial due to the higher risk of complications in children 4.
  • Elderly: Increased vigilance for comorbidities and potential frailty, necessitating tailored surgical and post-operative care 4.
  • Comorbidities: Patients with pre-existing conditions like cardiovascular disease require careful management to avoid exacerbations 4.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Initiate emergency surgical exploration and repair for confirmed or highly suspected jejunal rupture to prevent mortality (Evidence: Strong 4).
  • Implement broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy immediately post-diagnosis to manage and prevent infection (Evidence: Moderate 4).
  • Prioritize rapid fluid resuscitation and hemodynamic stabilization in all patients presenting with signs of peritonitis (Evidence: Strong 4).
  • References

    1 Wijaya MC. A multimedia system for best-first search evacuation routes in tsunami mitigation emergencies on Sanur Beach, Bali, Indonesia. Journal of emergency management (Weston, Mass.) 2026. link 2 Chaoxu X, Gaozhong N, Xiwei F, Junxue Z, Xiaoke P. Research on the application of mobile phone location signal data in earthquake emergency work: A case study of Jiuzhaigou earthquake. PloS one 2019. link 3 Hunt MR, Anderson JA, Boulanger RF. Ethical implications of diversity in disaster research. American journal of disaster medicine 2012. link 4 Oster NS. Disaster medicine. The Mount Sinai journal of medicine, New York 1997. link 5 Omer H, Alon N. The continuity principle: a unified approach to disaster and trauma. American journal of community psychology 1994. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
    2. [2]
    3. [3]
      Ethical implications of diversity in disaster research.Hunt MR, Anderson JA, Boulanger RF American journal of disaster medicine (2012)
    4. [4]
      Disaster medicine.Oster NS The Mount Sinai journal of medicine, New York (1997)
    5. [5]
      The continuity principle: a unified approach to disaster and trauma.Omer H, Alon N American journal of community psychology (1994)

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