@article {Burton223, author = {Matthew J Burton}, title = {3 Damage control surgery in a regional trauma centre {\textendash} defining the population: a pilot study}, volume = {167}, number = {4}, pages = {223--223}, year = {2021}, doi = {10.1136/bmjmilitary-2021-STATS.3}, publisher = {British Medical Journal Publishing Group}, abstract = {Introduction Trauma has a major disease burden, by causing physiological disruption.1 Damage Control Surgery (DCS) minimises physiological disruption.2 3 The demographics of patients who undergo DCS surgery within our institution are unknown. This study aims to characterise our DCS cohort and potential for prospective study.Methods Our hospital has a DCS protocol.4 This ensures the appropriate patients are safely and promptly transferred to a prepared operating theatre. All ORSOS data were captured from Nov 2017 {\textendash} Sep 2019. Data was reviewed, and demographics analysed.Results The DCS protocol was put on stand-by 42 times and activated in 21. Patient data was held for 38 cases, 30 male and 8 female, median age 37 years.Median Injury Severity Score was 29, with patients sustaining injuries from a range of mechanisms, figure 1. Median inpatient stay was 12 days, with a 29\% 30-day mortality.Abstract 3 Figure 1 Together this shows that despite prompt surgical intervention, a young patient cohort carries a significant mortality.Conclusions We have established the demographics of those who trigger DCS protocol use in a regional trauma centre. The resultant database enables prospective data collection for future DCS patients. Such data will afford our region a greater understanding of the DCS population.ReferencesPolinder S, Haagsma JA, Toet H, van Beeck EF. Epidemiological burden of minor, major and fatal trauma in a national injury pyramid. British journal of surgery 2012 Jan;99(S1):114{\textendash}20.Schreiber MA. Damage control surgery. Critical Care Clinics 2004 Jan 1;20(1):101{\textendash}18.Rotondo MF, Schwab CW, McGonigal MD, Fruchterman TM, Kauder DR, Latenser BA, Angood PA. {\textquoteleft}Damage control{\textquoteright}: an approach for improved survival in exsanguinating penetrating abdominal injury. The Journal of Trauma 1993 Sep;35(3):375{\textendash}82.Moor P, Droog S, Adams S. Damage Control Surgery (Online). Peninsula Trauma Network. University Hospital Plymouth. 2016 Feb [2019 December]. Available from: https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n3410.pdf\&ver=4326}, issn = {2633-3767}, URL = {https://militaryhealth.bmj.com/content/167/4/223.1}, eprint = {https://militaryhealth.bmj.com/content/167/4/223.1.full.pdf}, journal = {BMJ Military Health} }