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Damage Control Surgery and the Open Abdomen

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Common Problems in Acute Care Surgery

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Abstract

Management of the open abdomen incorporates tenants of intensive care unit and operative care of the critically ill patient. While several etiologies may result in the requirement for an open abdomen, goals of care are similar to all: temporary coverage of the viscera, appropriate critical care to include fluid resuscitation and nutrition support, treatment of the underlying etiology, attempts at fascial coverage and prevention or treatment of complications. This article will discuss each of these core components of open abdomen management in turn.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Denver Health Medical Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 777 Bannock Street, MC 0206, Denver, CO, 80204, USA

    Clay Cothren Burlew

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  1. Clay Cothren Burlew
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Correspondence to Clay Cothren Burlew .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School - Houston, Houston, Texas, USA

    Laura J. Moore

  2. General Surgery and Trauma Ben Taub Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA

    S. Rob Todd

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Burlew, C.C. (2017). Damage Control Surgery and the Open Abdomen. In: Moore, L., Todd, S. (eds) Common Problems in Acute Care Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42792-8_38

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42792-8_38

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-42790-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-42792-8

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