Trauma and Emergency Surgery
Overview
Trauma and emergency surgery entail management of the patient’s condition, surgical intervention and comprehensive postoperative care for one with a serious illness or life-threatening traumatic injury.
Emergency procedures are considered life-saving, helping to stabilise patients and preserve their health.
Emergency laparotomies for blunt and penetrating trauma
An emergency laparotomy is a surgery which involves the creation of an expansive incision over the abdominal region with the aim of resolving serious health implications such as haemorrhage, obstruction, perforation or severe trauma from a blunt force or penetrating injury.
Emergency thoracotomies for chest trauma
A thoracotomy is a comprehensive procedure that involves the creation of an incision within the chest wall to gain entry to the lungs, heart, oesophagus, aorta and spine for a thorough evaluation or treatment.
The surgery is performed for mainly penetrating chest trauma and occasionally for blunt chest trauma to address life threatening haemorrhage, unstable skeletal fractures and major air leaks with lung collapse. During the procedure, the surgeon creates an incision between the ribs to comprehensively view or come into contact with the other organs.
Neck explorations and tracheostomies
Neck exploration is a surgical assessment of the neck to check for severe injuries, such as vascular or nerve damage, which have an impact on that particular region of the body. This zone of the body is known for ease of access and surgical exploration.
A tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that involves forming an opening (stoma) at the anterior part of the neck, within the windpipe. This opening enables air to move through the windpipe to assist with breathing.
Surgery for burns
Surgery for burns involves the debridement of necrotic tissue, the use of skin grafts to conceal damaged regions with healthy skin, and reconstructive surgery, such as free flap surgery and tissue expansion.
Vascular injury repair
Vascular injury repair consists of surgical procedures and specialised techniques to return a healthy flow of blood to impacted vessels. These injuries could range from lacerations to major vessel disruptions. There are various forms of repair, such as the use of grafts, patch repair, reconstruction and suturing, depending on the type of injury.
FAQ
The rewards of the practice of safe surgery are very gratifying.
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