Abstract: Objective To evaluate the results of damage control surgery in the treatment of abdominal trauma and secon-dary peritonitis. Methods The data of 120 patients with abdominal trauma or acute abdomen undergoing damage control surgery from January 2008 to February 2013 were reviewed. Results For the patients with peptic ulcer perforation and secon-dary peritonitis, surgical repair was performed in 97 cases and duodenostomy in 5 cases. Operative time was (65± 12) min and blood loss was (50± 21) mL. There was no perioperative mortality, digestive tract leakage and abdominal infection. Pulmonary infection was found in 8 cases and wound infection in 4 cases. Duodenostomy was done for 6 cases with duodenal trauma. Surgical haemostasis and debridement and drainage were given for 5 cases with pancreatic trauma. Suture haemostasis combined with filling omentum majus was performed for 7 cases with liver traumatic rupture. Operative time was (100± 28) min and blood loss was (250± 65) mL. Eight cases were treated at ICU postoperatively for rehabilitation. One case with severe pancreatic trauma died 3 days after operation. Perioperative complications included pulmonary infection in 4 cases, renal dysfunction in 2 cases. Pancreatic leak and biliary leak and hepatic abscess were each 1 case. Conclusions The perioperative morbidity and mortality of the patients could be lower when damage control surgery was used. It is an effective approach for the patients with abdominal trauma and acute abdomen.

Key words: Abdominal trauma, Surgical emergency, Damage control surgery, Mortality, Complication