Can you survive a gunshot wound to the liver?

Background: Gunshot wounds of the liver may result in substantial morbidity and death, and optimal management of complex injuries is controversial. Methods: One hundred and fifty-three patients with civilian gunshot liver injuries were treated during the 10-year period 1986-1995.

What happens when a bullet hits your liver?

Penetrating injuries are also called piercing injuries. These may be caused by anything that goes through the skin and into the body. Piercing injuries to the liver or spleen may cause a tear, cut, or bruise to the organ. Piercing injuries may also result in a severely damaged organ and internal bleeding.

Can you get stabbed in the liver?

Stab wounds of the liver are relatively benign and the great majority can be satisfactorily treated with simple surgery. Excluding juxtahepatic venous injuries, the mortality and morbidity are due mainly to associated injuries.

How fast can a liver heal?

Healing can begin as early as a few days to weeks after you stop drinking, but if the damage is severe, healing can take several months. In some cases, “if the damage to the liver has been long-term, it may not be reversible,” warns Dr. Stein.

How long does it take to recover from liver injury?

Time to Recovery Indeed, the liver injury can be prolonged and even persistent (chronic). In the typical case, however, improvement starts within a week or two of stopping therapy, and the injury resolves completely within 2 to 3 months.

What happens when you get stabbed in the liver?

Complications, mostly involving the lungs and the wound, arose in 27\% of the series. Stab wounds of the liver are relatively benign and the great majority can be satisfactorily treated with simple surgery. Excluding juxtahepatic venous injuries, the mortality and morbidity are due mainly to associated injuries.

What happens if you have a gunshot wound on your abdomen?

A gunshot wound (GSW) to your abdomen may cause damage to your liver, stomach, intestines, colon, or spine. It may also cause damage to your kidneys, bladder, or other structures in your abdomen. Your healthcare provider will examine your body to check for injury. He will look to see if there is an entrance and exit wound from the bullet.

What happens if your liver or spleen is pierced?

Piercing injuries to the liver or spleen may cause a tear, cut, or bruise to the organ. Piercing injuries may also result in a severely damaged organ and internal bleeding. The liver and spleen are large organs located at the upper area of the abdomen (stomach). The liver is at the right side and the spleen is at the left.

What are the signs and symptoms of piercing injuries to the liver?

What are the signs and symptoms of piercing injuries to the liver or spleen? Abdominal pain and tenderness. Bleeding, swelling, or bruising from the wound site. Burned skin caused by a gun fired at close range. Open wounds where the objects may have entered or exited. Pain on the left shoulder.

What to do if you have a liver or spleen injury?

Your caregiver will watch you closely for a period of time until your liver or spleen injury heals on its own. You may need to rest in bed and limit your activity. Drainage: Draining may be done to clean out any old blood or bile (brownish fluid) in your abdomen.