Nine patients (29%) in the AL group were hemodynamically unstable on admission to the emergency department. All the patients in the DL group were stable on admission. The number and distribution of laparotomies in each group are summarized in Table 2. In the DL group, 19 patients (7.3%) had a second unplanned laparotomy, and 5 additional patients (1.9%) had 2 or more subsequent laparotomies following the first emergency operation (a total of at least 3 laparotomies).

A total of 24 patients in the DL group (9.2%) underwent BAY 1895344 solubility dmso at least one unplanned laparotomy. Mortality rates were 54.8% and 16.5% in the AL and DL groups respectively (p < 0.0001). The most common cause of death in both groups was multi-organ failure (MOF) due to irreversible septic shock. In both groups the patients who died were significantly older than those who survived (75 vs. 47.3 years in the AL group and 74 vs. 63 years in the DL group; p < 0.0001 in each group), but there was no statistical Selleckchem PF-2341066 difference between the two group with regard to the age of patients who died. Wound infection, MOF and sepsis [12] were significantly more frequent in patients in the AL group (Table 3). Median length of hospital stay (LOS) was significantly

longer in the patients in the AL group (21 vs. 9 days; p < 0.05). Table 1 Demographics and indications for emergency surgery   AL DL p N patients (%) 31 (10.7) 260 (89.3)   Male % 58.1 54.2 NS Mean age (years) 62.8 (± 18.8) 65.0 (± 17.7) NS Peritonitis 48.4%

30.4% 0.04 Mesenteric ischemia 32.3% 3.5% < 0.0001 Intestinal obstruction 6.5% 58% < 0.0001 Bleeding 9.7% 3.1% NS Other 3.2% 5.0% NS Table 2 Number of laparotomies in each group   N -- Laparotomies   1 2 3+ Total AL - n (%) 5 (16.1) 12 (38.7) 14 (45.2) 31 (100) DL -- n (%) 236 (90.8) 19* (7.3) 5* (1.9) 260 (100) Total -- n (%) 241 (82.8) 31 (10.7) 19 (6.5) 291 (100) *- unplanned laparotomies Table 3 Mortality and morbidity   AL DL p Mortality 54.8% 16.5% < 0.0001 Mean age: 75 vs. 47.3 74 vs. 63.2 NS Died vs. survived P < 0.0001 P < 0.0001   Wound infection 32.3% 13.3% 0.013 MOF 93.5% 21.5% < 0.0001 Sepsis 83.9% 21.5% < 0.0001 Discussion Damage control surgery made a monumental change in the paradigm that anatomical perfection must be achieved during the initial operation of critically injured patients. Trauma surgeons realized that the need to reverse the physiological Olopatadine “”lethal triad”" of acidosis, hypothermia and coagulopathy surpassed the necessity to correct all the anatomical derangements that were caused by the initial injury. Definitive surgery in the acute setting is practiced under strict adherence to a pre-defined algorithm in which damage control surgery is elected for the most seriously injured, and some of the indications for damage control in trauma may be applied for non-trauma critically ill patients as well. There is little level I evidence to support abbreviated surgery in a non-trauma setting.