A successful damage control surgery in a 20-years-old male with penetrating abdominal trauma; A case report

Background: Damage Control Laparotomy (DCL) is an appropriate technique in approaching the patients with critical injuries.Case report: We report a case of road traffic injury in a 20-years-old male, presenting with penetrating abdominal trauma caused by a metal tube. DCL was performed and patient was stabilized. Re-exploration was done and patient was discharged 33th day with peroneal nerve palsy and no other associated complications.Discussion: Three main causes of mortality in severely injured patients are; coagulopathy, hypothermia and metabolic acidosis; These factors make a vicious cycle which leads to metabolic status disruptions and a high rate of mortality. DCL consists of an initial laparotomy that is limited to the control of hemorrhage and contamination and intra-abdominal packing. Minimizing the first operation to vital tasks, can save lives which may be lost otherwise.