Question

A bullet fired from a gun at close range passes through the patient's liver. However, on autopsy, the coroner discovers that the man's pancreas, stomach, and gall bladder were also injured, even though not in direct contact with the bullet. As a knowledgeable EMT, you would recognize that which of the following is responsible for injury to these additional organs?

Select one:
a. Blunt injury
b. Profile impact
c. Drag force
d. Cavitation

Answer 1

The additional organ injuries are caused by cavitation, which results from the high-speed impact and temporary cavity created by the bullet, leading to internal injury.

Step-by-step explanation:

The injury to the patient's pancreas, stomach, and gall bladder despite not being in direct contact with the bullet can be attributed to cavitation. This phenomenon occurs when a bullet enters the body at high speed, creating a temporary cavity that expands and contracts rapidly, exerting pressure on adjacent organs and tissues leading to damage. The rapid expansion and collapse of this cavity can cause significant internal injury beyond the bullet's direct path.