Damage Control in Emergency General Surgery

The fellow should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the open abdomen in EGS
• Describe the indications for damage control surgery in EGS
• Describe the options for temporary abdominal closure in EGS
• Understand management principles when fascial closure is not achievable and strategies for delayed abdominal wall reconstruction after planned ventral hernia
• Recognize the controversy of prophylactic mesh placement in EGS for hernia prevention

Resources 

• Topic Summary
• Additional Resources:
  • Risinger WB, Smith JW.,  Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. 2023. Damage control surgery in emergency general Surgery: What you need to know
  • Fernández C. Damage control surgery and transfer in emergency general surgery. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2023.