Final answer:
A 52-year-old woman after a motor vehicle accident has free fluid in the peritoneal cavity without solid organ damage. Such a finding necessitates thorough investigation and could require antibiotic therapy or emergency surgery, depending on the cause, which may include infection or complications from recent medical treatments or invasive procedures.
Step-by-step explanation:
A 52-year-old woman has experienced a motor vehicle accident (MVA) and a computed tomography (CT) scan of her abdomen has revealed free fluid in the peritoneal cavity without evidence of solid organ injury. When free fluid is present in the absence of solid organ injury, medical management requires careful evaluation and monitoring, as this could indicate conditions such as chemical or hemorrhagic peritonitis. The detection of free fluid could be a sign of infection, such as caused by schistosome parasites, or a complication from recent invasive procedures or surgery.
In the case of the examined patient histories, it's imperative to consider recent potential causes such as Marisa's medical care abroad, including antimicrobial drug treatments, catheterization, and Roberta's recent surgery which could lead to postoperative complications. The doctor would typically order further investigations such as blood tests, to look for elevated white blood cell count, and urine tests to check for infection. Treatment often includes antibiotic therapy and sometimes emergency surgery, depending on the severity and underlying cause of the peritoneal fluid accumulation.
Peritonitis, the inflammation of the peritoneum, is a serious condition that requires prompt medical attention. The peritoneum is composed of the parietal peritoneum, which lines the abdominal wall, and the visceral peritoneum, which envelops the abdominal organs. Management of peritonitis has greatly improved, with advances in surgery, anesthesia, critical care, and antibiotics reducing mortality rates significantly, yet urgent care is still crucial to patient outcomes.