Organ Dysfunction
Type: Symptom
Definition
The sudden failure or impairment of an internal organ.
Clinical Details
Depending on the location of the stab wound, the penetrating object can directly slice into organs like the lungs, liver, or intestines. A stab to the chest will result in immediate severe shortness of breath as the lung collapses, while a stab to the gut will cause rigid abdominal pain and spilling of intestinal contents. These specific organ failures are rapidly life-threatening.