BACKGROUND: Based on the concept of damage control this study analyzes, epidemiologically, patients submitted to this surgical modality in the Cajuru University Hospital (HUC) in Curitiba, Paraná. METHODS: During the period of January 2001 through March 2005, records of patients of diverse trauma have been revised. RESULTS: Thirty nine patients were submitted to damage control, 35 were males (87.74%) and 4 were females (10.26%). Patients’ age varied from 4 to 73 years-old, average of 30.35 years-old. Penetrating trauma occurred in 24 patients (61.54%), including 18 patients (46.15%) victims of gunshot wounds and 6 (15.38%) victims of stabwounds. Abdominal blunt trauma occurred in 15 patients (38.46% of total). Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 44.03. The amount of blood derivates used was 7.2 red cell packages and 4.95 units of plasma. Ph during the first surgery was 71 and BE (base excess) -14.4. Duration of the first surgery was 174.18 minutes (2.9 hours). Immediate complications have been shown in 28 patients (53.85%). The survival rate was 20.51% (n=8) and time of permanence in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after the first surgery was 41.75 hours (n=24). CONCLUSION: As a matter of fact, damage control can improve survival rates of multiple and severe injured patients if hemodynamics status in the first 24 hours after the trauma is stabilized. If this attempts fails, mortality still remains high; as it is demonstrated on this survey and on searched literature.
Abdominal injuries; Wounds, penetrating; Wounds and injuries; Surgery
