Solid organs, things like kidneys and the liver are highly vascular. Meaning if you get shot in them you will bleed… a lot.
Other organs, like the Gall Bladder, are known as “hollow organs” and although they aren’t as vascular, they still do pose a horrible danger of being perforated…
For example, I remember one time in Syria we we’re engaged in a multi-day battle against ISIS fighters along the Euphrates River. Vehicle Borne Explosive Devices (VBIEDs) we’re coming in by the dozens, and these things were no joke… Straight Mad Max type vehicles packed with a thousand pounds of explosives that produced concussive forces so powerful they would disable vehicle engines from over a football field away- sending a mini mushroom cloud of smoke and dust up into the air.
During of these instances a Kurdish guerilla chick was near the blast but made it out unscathed- aside from the shell shock of the concussive force. Dizzied and disoriented, she started to stumble out of the rubble when an RPG impacted right in front of her. Shrapnel sliced its way through her abdomen and legs severely wounding her with multiple injuries.
One of these pieces of shrapnel pierced her gut and went through her Gall Bladder. I distinctly remember coming up on her ready to render medical treatment when I was smacked in the face with the raw pungent stench of-bile. It was so raw it burned my nostrils as if it had just come out of my own nose and almost caused me to puke myself… (no one ever tells you about the smells of combat)…
Had I not been educated on the types of injuries we sustain in combat, I might have gotten tunnel vision on this issue, and not noticed the life-threatening bleed coming from her femoral artery in her thigh. We applied life-saving measures, then handled the secondary.
The lesson here, is knowing about these organs and their injuries is crucial for anyone who may be involved in a gunfight.
In this article we’re going to focus on the upper right quadrant (URQ) of the abdomen, outlining the potential medical injuries that can occur and the importance of this information for gun enthusiasts.
Vital Organs in the Upper Right Quadrant
The upper right quadrant of the abdomen contains several essential structures:
- Liver (majority)
- Gallbladder
- Part of the Duodenum (first part of the small intestine)
- Part of the Pancreas (head)
- Right Kidney and Adrenal Gland
- Part of the Colon (ascending and transverse colon)
- Major Blood Vessels
Damage to any of these organs can result in severe, life-threatening complications.
Potential Medical Injuries and Illnesses
A gunshot wound to the URQ can cause various serious injuries, including:
- Liver Injury:
- The liver is a highly vascular organ, and injury can lead to significant internal bleeding. Liver damage can impair crucial functions such as detoxification, protein synthesis, and bile production, potentially leading to liver failure.
- Gallbladder Injury:
- Damage to the gallbladder can cause bile leakage into the abdominal cavity, leading to peritonitis and sepsis. Surgical intervention is often required to address gallbladder injuries.
- Duodenal Perforation:
- Perforation of the duodenum can lead to the leakage of intestinal contents, causing peritonitis and sepsis. This condition requires prompt surgical repair.
- Pancreatic Damage:
- Injury to the head of the pancreas can result in pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas. This condition can cause severe pain, digestive issues, and diabetes if the insulin-producing cells are damaged.
- Kidney and Adrenal Gland Injury:
- Damage to the right kidney can impair renal function, cause severe bleeding, and potentially necessitate a nephrectomy (removal of the kidney). Injury to the adrenal gland can disrupt hormone production, affecting the body’s stress response and metabolism.
- Colon Perforation:
- Injury to the colon can cause leakage of fecal material into the abdominal cavity, leading to peritonitis and sepsis. Prompt surgical intervention is necessary to repair the damage.
- Vascular Injury:
- Major blood vessels in the URQ, such as the hepatic artery and the portal vein, can be damaged, causing life-threatening hemorrhage and shock.
- Diaphragmatic Injury:
- The diaphragm, a muscle essential for breathing, can be injured, leading to respiratory distress and potential herniation of abdominal contents into the chest cavity.
- Infection:
- Any gunshot wound to the abdomen carries a high risk of infection, which can lead to abscess formation, peritonitis, and sepsis.
Importance for Gun Enthusiasts
Understanding the potential injuries from a gunshot wound to the upper right quadrant is crucial for several reasons:
- Enhanced Situational Awareness:
- Knowledge of the critical structures in the URQ can improve situational awareness and decision-making during training or in real-life scenarios. It highlights the importance of protecting this area during engagements.
- First Aid and Emergency Response:
- Gun enthusiasts trained in first aid can better prioritize medical attention. Recognizing the severity of URQ injuries can lead to faster, more appropriate responses, potentially saving lives.
- Training and Preparedness:
- Incorporating medical knowledge into firearms training programs can create more comprehensive and realistic training scenarios. It prepares enthusiasts for potential emergencies and enhances overall safety.
- Tactical Gear and Body Armor:
- Understanding which areas of the body are more vulnerable can influence the selection and use of body armor. Ensuring that the URQ is adequately protected can reduce the risk of life-threatening injuries.
- Informed Decision-Making:
- Gun enthusiasts can make more informed decisions about their personal safety and the safety of others. This knowledge can be applied in various contexts, from recreational shooting to professional security work.
There is no doubt that had I not known about the different types of organs and injuries one might sustain from a gunshot wound to the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, that guerilla chick may have died there in the battlefield in my arms. Fortunately, I was educated, and she didn’t.
For anyone looking to learn from these types of life-lessons and wanting to be better informed, you can join The Lethality University, where I teach everyday Americans life-lessons learned from my experiences, and the experiences of other Special Operations Warriors in combat.
Live Lethal my friends.
- Joe Malone