damage control surgery
Abbreviated surgical intervention to control hemorrhage and contamination in critically unstable patients.
Full Definition
Damage control surgery is a staged approach to managing severely injured or critically ill patients who cannot tolerate prolonged surgical procedures. The initial operation focuses solely on controlling bleeding and preventing further contamination, often leaving the abdomen temporarily open. Definitive repair is delayed until the patient's physiology has been optimized in the intensive care unit. This approach has revolutionized trauma surgery and is increasingly applied in emergency general surgery. The strategy trades anatomical completeness for physiological stability.
Usage
Usage note: Often abbreviated as DCS in clinical notes but should be written out in formal documentation.
In Context
- "Given the patient's hypothermia and coagulopathy, damage control surgery was performed with planned return to theatre." — Trauma surgery report
- "The damage control surgery approach reduced operative time to 45 minutes, prioritizing hemostasis over bowel repair." — Surgical technique paper