Chest trauma: “Damage Control” Begins in the emergency room

Background: Patients with severe thoracic injuries and subsequent physiological decline may not be candidates for initial definitive treatment. Despite limited data, this subset of patients may benefit from the implementation of thoracic damage control, which should begin in the emergency room. Methods: A literature search was conducted through Medline following PRISMA guidelines. Articles that focused on damage control surgery, the use of damage control techniques in traumatic injuries, and the use of damage control in civilian populations were selected. Due to the paucity of literature and lack of Level I evidence on this subject, studies published in any year were considered. Results: A search of the literature yielded 119 studies. Most of these were excluded based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thirty-five articles were selected for review. The majority of these were classified as Level III, IV, or V evidence. Limitations: Limitations of this article are similar to all PRISMA-guided review articles: The dependence on previously published research and availability of references. Conclusion: Effective “Damage Control” following a traumatic injury begins with initial management in the emergency department, which is followed by an abbreviated operation, equally aggressive critical care, and a planned reexploration. Additional studies are required to examine the adaptation of specific damage control techniques to thoracic injuries, but patients with severe chest trauma can benefit from initiation of damage control strategies in the emergency room.