When a hollow organ is punctured during an abdominal penetrating injury, what may occur?

With a puncture of a hollow organ during an abdominal penetrating injury, it's common for peritonitis to not develop immediately. This delay can be due to the fact that the contents of hollow organs, such as the intestines or bladder, may initially leak slowly or be limited in quantity, and it can take time for bacteria and toxins to irritate the peritoneal cavity enough to trigger the inflammatory response characteristic of peritonitis.

The development of peritonitis is influenced by factors such as the type of organ involved, the nature of the contents spilled into the abdominal cavity, and the timing of medical intervention. This is why monitoring and timely treatment are essential after such injuries, as deterioration can occur later, leading to severe complications.

The other options are less relevant because they describe conditions that are not characteristic of what happens immediately after the puncture of a hollow organ. Protrusion of the organ at the injury site is not typical, and while distention of the abdomen can occur, it is not instantaneous. Additionally, while bleeding can occur, hollow organs typically do not bleed as profusely as solid organs, hence shock is not a guaranteed outcome.