Damage Control Management in the Polytrauma Patient: A Multidisciplinary and Sequential Approach
Damage Control Management in the Polytrauma Patient
Polytrauma is a life-threatening condition that affects millions of people worldwide every year. It occurs when a person suffers multiple injuries to different body regions or organ systems, often as a result of high-energy trauma such as motor vehicle accidents, falls, blasts, or gunshot wounds. Polytrauma can cause severe bleeding, shock, organ failure, infection, and death.
Damage Control Management in the Polytrauma Patient
Managing polytrauma patients is a complex and challenging task that requires a multidisciplinary approach and timely interventions. One of the strategies that has been developed to improve the survival and outcome of polytrauma patients is damage control management. In this article, we will explain what damage control management is, how it can be applied in polytrauma patients, what are its benefits and challenges, and what are the future directions for this field.
What is polytrauma?
Polytrauma is defined as an injury to at least two body regions or organ systems that results in one or more of the following conditions:
Unstable vital signs (such as low blood pressure, high heart rate, low oxygen saturation)
Severe hemorrhage (blood loss of more than 20% of total blood volume)
Life-threatening airway or breathing problems (such as tension pneumothorax, hemothorax, or flail chest)
Neurological impairment (such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or nerve damage)
Abdominal or pelvic injuries (such as liver laceration, spleen rupture, or bladder perforation)
Chest or thoracic injuries (such as rib fractures, lung contusion, or cardiac tamponade)
Extremity injuries (such as open fractures, vascular injuries, or compartment syndrome)
Polytrauma can be caused by various mechanisms of injury, such as:
Blunt trauma (such as motor vehicle collisions, falls from height, or pedestrian accidents)
Penetrating trauma (such as gunshot wounds, stab wounds, or impalements)
Blast trauma (such as explosions from bombs, mines, or improvised explosive devices)
Thermal trauma (such as burns from fire, electricity, or chemicals)
What is damage control management?
Damage control management is a concept that originated from naval warfare. It refers to the process of limiting the extent of damage to a ship after an attack by prioritizing the most critical repairs and stabilizing the ship until it reaches a safe harbor. Similarly, in medicine, damage control management refers to the process of limiting the extent of damage to a patient after a severe injury by prioritizing the most critical interventions and stabilizing the patient until he or she reaches a definitive care facility.
The principles and goals of damage control management are:
To stop the lethal triad of hypothermia (low body temperature), acidosis (low blood pH), and coagulopathy (impaired blood clotting) that can worsen the condition of polytrauma patients and lead to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and death.
To restore the normal physiology and homeostasis of the patient by correcting the hypovolemia (low blood volume), hypoxia (low oxygen level), hypotension (low blood pressure), and metabolic derangements caused by the injury.
To perform only the essential and life-saving surgical procedures that can control the bleeding, prevent infection, and preserve vital organs and limbs, while postponing the definitive and reconstructive surgeries that can be done later when the patient is more stable.
To transfer the patient as soon as possible to a higher level of care where he or she can receive the optimal and comprehensive treatment for the injuries.
How to apply damage control management in polytrauma patients?
Damage control management in polytrauma patients involves a coordinated and sequential approach that consists of five phases: damage control resuscitation, damage control surgery, damage control orthopedics, damage control anesthesia, and damage control intensive care. Each phase has its own objectives, methods, and challenges. We will describe each phase in detail below.
Damage control resuscitation
Damage control resuscitation is the first phase of damage control management. It starts at the scene of injury and continues during the prehospital and hospital phases until the patient reaches the operating room. The main objective of damage control resuscitation is to stop the bleeding and restore the circulation of the patient. The methods of damage control resuscitation include:
Applying direct pressure, tourniquets, hemostatic agents, or wound packing to control the external bleeding.
Performing needle decompression, chest tube insertion, or thoracotomy to relieve the tension pneumothorax or hemothorax that can compromise the breathing and circulation.
Administering intravenous fluids, blood products, or tranexamic acid to replace the blood loss and prevent or treat the coagulopathy.
Using permissive hypotension (keeping the systolic blood pressure around 90 mmHg) to avoid excessive fluid administration that can dilute the clotting factors and dislodge the clots.
Monitoring the vital signs, hemoglobin level, lactate level, base deficit, and coagulation parameters to guide the resuscitation and assess the response.
The challenges of damage control resuscitation include:
Limited availability of resources, personnel, equipment, or transportation in some settings.
Lack of standardized protocols or guidelines for fluid and blood product administration.
Risk of over-resuscitation or under-resuscitation that can worsen the outcome of the patient.
Damage control surgery
Damage control surgery is the second phase of damage control management. It occurs in the operating room after the patient has been resuscitated and stabilized. The main objective of damage control surgery is to perform only the essential and life-saving surgical procedures that can control the bleeding, prevent infection, and preserve vital organs and limbs. The methods of damage control surgery include:
Performing a rapid and focused assessment of the injuries using imaging techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), or angiography.
Performing a laparotomy (opening of the abdomen) or thoracotomy (opening of the chest) to explore and repair any injuries to the internal organs such as liver, spleen, kidney, bowel, lung, or heart.
Performing a vascular repair or ligation to stop any arterial or venous bleeding.
Performing a fasciotomy (opening of the muscle compartment) to relieve any pressure buildup that can cause ischemia (lack of blood flow) and necrosis (tissue death).
Packing any wounds or cavities with gauze or other materials to tamponade (compress) any bleeding sources.
Placing drains or tubes to evacuate any fluid collections such as blood, urine, bile, or pus.
Closing any wounds or incisions temporarily with staples or sutures to prevent contamination or infection.
The challenges of damage control surgery include:
Limited time window (usually less than 90 minutes) to complete all the necessary procedures before the patient develops hypothermia, acidosis, or coagulopathy.
Lack of definitive repair or reconstruction that can leave residual defects or impairments in function or appearance.
Risk of complications such as bleeding, infection, organ failure, or death.
Damage control orthopedics
Damage control orthopedics is the third phase of damage control management. It occurs in the operating room after the damage control surgery has been completed. The main objective of damage control orthopedics is to stabilize any fractures or dislocations that can cause further bleeding, infection, or nerve damage. The methods of damage control orthopedics include:
Performing a reduction (alignment) of any displaced or angulated bones.
Applying an external fixation (a device that holds the bones in place with pins and rods outside the skin) or a splint (a device that immobilizes the bones with a cast or a brace) to maintain the reduction and prevent further displacement.
Debriding (removing) any dead or contaminated tissue from any open fractures or wounds.
Covering any exposed bones or soft tissues with dressings or flaps (skin grafts) to prevent infection or desiccation (drying out).
The challenges of damage control orthopedics include:
Limited availability of specialized equipment, implants, or personnel in some settings.
Lack of definitive fixation (a device that holds the bones in place with plates and screws inside the skin) or reconstruction (a procedure that restores the shape and function of the bones and joints) that can result in malunion (improper healing), nonunion (failure to heal), or deformity.
Risk of complications such as infection, osteomyelitis (bone infection), osteonecrosis (bone death), or amputation.
Damage control anesthesia
Damage control anesthesia is the fourth phase of damage control management. It occurs in the operating room during the damage control surgery and orthopedics. The main objective of damage control anesthesia is to provide adequate sedation, analgesia (pain relief), and hemodynamic (blood pressure and heart rate) support to the patient. The methods of damage control anesthesia include:
Using a balanced anesthesia technique that combines general anesthesia (a state of unconsciousness induced by drugs), regional anesthesia (a state of numbness induced by blocking the nerves), and local anesthesia (a state of numbness induced by injecting drugs into the tissues).
Using a goal-directed fluid therapy that administers fluids and blood products according to the patient's hemodynamic status and response.
Using a damage control coagulation that administers clotting factors, platelets, or antifibrinolytics (drugs that prevent clot breakdown) to correct or prevent coagulopathy.
Using a damage control ventilation that adjusts the oxygen level, pressure, and volume of the air delivered to the lungs to optimize gas exchange and prevent lung injury.
Using a damage control temperature management that uses warming devices, blankets, or fluids to prevent hypothermia.
The challenges of damage control anesthesia include:
Limited availability of monitoring devices, drugs, or blood products in some settings.
Lack of standardized protocols or guidelines for fluid, blood, and drug administration.
Risk of complications such as hypotension, hypoxia, acidosis, coagulopathy, or organ failure.
Damage control intensive care
Damage control intensive care is the fifth and final phase of damage control management. It occurs in the intensive care unit after the patient has been transferred from the operating room. The main objective of damage control intensive care is to monitor and treat any complications that may arise from the injury or the interventions. The methods of damage control intensive care include:
Continuing the damage control resuscitation, coagulation, ventilation, and temperature management as needed.
Performing serial laboratory tests and imaging studies to assess the patient's condition and response to treatment.
Administering antibiotics, analgesics, sedatives, or other drugs as needed.
Providing nutritional support, wound care, physiotherapy, or psychological support as needed.
Planning for the definitive care phase that involves performing the definitive and reconstructive surgeries that were postponed during the damage control phase.
The challenges of damage control intensive care include:
Limited availability of beds, equipment, personnel, or resources in some settings.
Lack of coordination or communication among the different teams involved in the patient's care.
Risk of complications such as infection, sepsis, organ failure, or death.
What are the benefits and challenges of damage control management in polytrauma patients?
Damage control management in polytrauma patients has been shown to have several benefits, such as:
Improved survival rate and reduced mortality rate compared to conventional management.
Reduced incidence and severity of complications such as coagulopathy, MODS, or sepsis.
Better functional and quality of life outcomes for the patients and their families.
However, damage control management in polytrauma patients also faces several challenges, such as:
Limited availability of resources, personnel, equipment, or transportation in some settings, especially in low- and middle-income countries or in mass casualty situations.
Lack of standardized protocols or guidelines for the implementation and evaluation of damage control management in different settings and scenarios.
Lack of adequate education and training for the health care providers involved in damage control management.
Lack of sufficient research and innovation to improve the methods and outcomes of damage control management.
Lack of ethical and legal frameworks to address the issues and dilemmas that may arise from damage control management, such as resource allocation, informed consent, or end-of-life decisions.
What are the future directions for damage control management in polytrauma patients?
Damage control management in polytrauma patients is a dynamic and evolving field that has the potential to save lives and improve outcomes. Some of the future directions for this field are:
Conducting more research and innovation to develop new techniques, devices, drugs, or biomarkers that can enhance the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of polytrauma patients.
Providing more education and training for the health care providers involved in damage control management to improve their knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
Establishing more standardized protocols or guidelines for the implementation and evaluation of damage control management in different settings and scenarios.
Improving the quality improvement and evaluation of damage control management to measure its effectiveness, efficiency, safety, and satisfaction.
Addressing the ethical and legal issues and dilemmas that may arise from damage control management to ensure its respect, fairness, and accountability.
Conclusion
Polytrauma is a life-threatening condition that requires a multidisciplinary approach and timely interventions. Damage control management is a strategy that aims to limit the extent of damage to a patient after a severe injury by prioritizing the most critical interventions and stabilizing the patient until he or she reaches a definitive care facility. Damage control management involves five phases: damage control resuscitation, damage control surgery, damage control orthopedics, damage control anesthesia, and damage control intensive care. Each phase has its own objectives, methods, and challenges. Damage control management has been shown to have several benefits, such as improved survival, reduced complications, and better outcomes. However, it also faces several challenges, such as limited resources, lack of standardization, lack of education, lack of research, and lack of ethics. Therefore, more efforts are needed to overcome these challenges and improve the future directions for this field.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about damage control management in polytrauma patients:
Q: What is the difference between damage control management and conventional management?
A: Conventional management is the traditional approach that aims to perform all the necessary surgical procedures in one session regardless of the patient's condition. Damage control management is a newer approach that aims to perform only the essential surgical procedures in one session and postpone the rest until the patient is more stable.
Q: When should damage control management be applied?
A: Damage control management should be applied when the patient has severe injuries that cause hypothermia, acidosis, or coagulopathy; when the patient has ongoing bleeding that cannot be controlled by resuscitation; when the patient has multiple injuries that require prolonged surgery; or when the patient has limited access to resources or transportation.
Q: What are the risks of damage control management?
A: Damage control management can have some risks such as leaving residual defects or impairments; increasing the number of surgeries and interventions; increasing the risk of infection or organ failure; or creating ethical or legal dilemmas.
Q: How can damage control management be improved?
education and training; establishing more standardized protocols or guidelines; improving the quality improvement and evaluation; and addressing the ethical and legal issues and dilemmas.
Q: What are some examples of damage control management in polytrauma patients?
A: Some examples of damage control management in polytrauma patients are:
A patient who has a gunshot wound to the abdomen and chest that causes massive bleeding and organ damage. He undergoes damage control resuscitation at the scene and in the ambulance, damage control surgery and orthopedics in the operating room, damage control anesthesia during the procedures, and damage control intensive care in the intensive care unit. He is transferred to a tertiary care center where he receives definitive and reconstructive surgeries.
A patient who has a blast injury to the lower extremities that causes open fractures and vascular injuries. She undergoes damage control resuscitation at the scene and in the helicopter, damage control surgery and orthopedics in the operating room, damage control anesthesia during the procedures, and damage control intensive care in the intensive care unit. She is transferred to a specialized center where she receives definitive fixation and reconstruction.
A patient who has a motor vehicle collision that causes multiple injuries to the head, chest, abdomen, pelvis, and extremities. He undergoes damage control resuscitation at the scene and in the hospital, damage control surgery and orthopedics in the operating room, damage control anesthesia during the procedures, and damage control intensive care in the intensive care unit. He is transferred to a rehabilitation center where he receives physical therapy and psychological support.
71b2f0854b
