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Learn About Conditions and Procedures

What is Trauma?

Trauma is a serious injury or shock to the body. It is caused by a physical force such as violence or an accident. The injury may be complicated by psychiatric, behavioral, and social factors.

It is critical to have an entire team immediately available to provide care to an injured patient 24-hours a day. This teamwork starts at the scene of the injury where a coordinated, statewide pre-hospital medical system rapidly transports the injured patient from the scene to the hospital providing the appropriate level of care according to criteria established in the statewide trauma regulations. Once at the hospital, a complete team of surgeons, emergency physicians and nurses continue the life-saving treatment.

This team approach to care of the injured patient has had a dramatic impact on saving lives.

Minimally Invasive Procedures for Massive Bleeding

Injuries take many forms. The most advanced hospitals can treat injuries with a variety of approaches that involve well-known ones, like surgery, and newer ones where minimally invasive procedures can replace some surgeries.

As a Level 1 Trauma Center, Hartford Hospital has Interventional Radiologists as part of the Trauma Team. They perform procedures such as "embolization" which is a recognized interventional radiology technique that is used to treat trauma patients with massive bleeding.

Click here to see some of the advanced interventional techniques available at Hartford Hospital.

Learn more about trauma, or search below to learn about other health conditions.

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Abdominal X-ray

(Flat Plate of the Abdomen; Kidneys, Ureter, Bladder; KUB)

by Editorial Staff and Contributors

En Español (Spanish Version)

Definition

An x-ray creates pictures of organs in the body. This type of x-ray takes a picture of organs in the abdomen.

Abdominal Organs

Reasons for Test

Your doctor may order this test if there is a problem in your abdomen. The area includes everything from just under your chest to your pelvic area. Some symptoms that may make your doctor concerned include:

Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain or side pain
Bloating
Blood in the urine
Constipation or diarrhea
Bloody or dark black stools

Possible Complications

Complications are rare. If you are planning to have an x-ray, your doctor will review a list of possible complications.

A x-ray does use radiation. You and your doctor will weigh the harms and benefits of this test. An x-ray may not be advised if you are pregnant. Be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor before the test.

What to Expect

Usually no special preparation is needed.

You will remove your clothes and put on a hospital gown. You will also need to remove all metal items, like jewelry and watches.

Tell your doctor if you:

Have taken any bismuth medicines (such as Pepto-Bismol) within the last four days
Had a barium contrast x-ray within the last four days
Are pregnant or could possibly be pregnant

You will lie flat on your back under the x-ray machine. You will be asked to remain still while the x-ray is taken. Between x-rays, you may be asked to move into another position. You may also be asked to stand upright.

You will be able to leave after the test is done.

The x-ray will take about 10 minutes

Results

The x-ray may help your doctor find the source of your problem. If the x-ray shows an abnormality, you may need more testing such as:

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if you have any questions about the test, your condition, or your test results.

In case of an emergency, call for medical help right away.

American Urological Association

http://www.urologyhealth.org

National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov

The Kidney Foundation of Canada

http://www.kidney.ab.ca

The Public Health Agency of Canada

ttp://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca

Kidney, ureter, and bladder x-ray. John Hopkins Medical Center website. Available at: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/test_procedures/urology/kidney_ureter_and_bladder_x-ray_92,P07719/. Accessed November 10, 2012.

The Merck Manual website. Available at: http://www.merck.com/mmpe/index.html.

The Patient's Guide to Medical Tests. Yale University School of Medicine; 1997.

Last reviewed November 2012 by Brian Randall, MD

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.