Damage control surgery

Damage Control Surgery (pronounced: dam-ij con-trol sur-ger-y) is a surgical approach primarily used in the field of Trauma Surgery to manage severe traumatic injuries. The term originated from the naval terminology, where "damage control" refers to the emergency control of situations that may cause the sinking of a vessel.

Etymology

The term "Damage Control Surgery" was first used in medical literature in the 1990s, drawing an analogy from naval procedures where the primary goal is to keep the ship afloat. In the context of trauma surgery, the primary goal is to prevent the patient from succumbing to the "lethal triad" of hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy.

Procedure

Damage Control Surgery involves three stages: an initial abbreviated surgery to control bleeding and contamination, intensive care unit resuscitation, and a definitive surgery after the patient's physiology has been normalized. The main goal is not to fix all of the damage, but to control the damage and get the patient out of the operating room as quickly as possible to prevent further complications.

Related Terms

• Trauma Surgery
• Lethal Triad
• Hypothermia
• Acidosis
• Coagulopathy

See Also

• Emergency Surgery
• Life-Saving Procedures

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