The combination of a surgeon shortage and poor access to emergency surgical care led to establishment of the Acute Care Surgery paradigm and subspecialty in 2003. Concurrently, minimally invasive approaches revolutionized surgical practice in the 21st century. In the U.S., acute care surgeons stand at the front line of patient care for emergency general surgery, trauma, and surgical critical care, and thus are positioned to positively impact healthcare delivery and costs. Surgical Decision Making in Acute Care Surgery by renowned surgeons Kimberly Davis and Raul Coimbra is the first text that comprehensively discusses when to use minimally invasive techniques and advanced technology versus traditional open procedures in acute traumatic and non-traumatic surgical emergencies.

The text begins with three opening chapters covering the background of the Acute Care Surgery subspecialty, anatomic and physiological considerations, and the impact of acute surgical illness on pre- and post-operative critical care decisions. Subsequent chapters outline surgical approaches for commonly encountered acute conditions. Trauma chapters cover interventions for cervical, blunt and penetrating abdominal, and thoracic injuries. Emergency general surgery topics run the gamut from appendicitis to emergency management of paraesophageal hernias and esophageal perforations. An impressive group of senior surgeons and younger rising stars in American surgery share their expertise throughout the book.

Key Highlights

• Disease-specific chapters include epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic tools, treatment strategies, surgical techniques, cost analyses, complications, and national guidelines where available
• Subchapters feature expert commentary on preceding chapters, including clinical pearls and controversies (e.g. operative vs. nonoperative management)
• In-depth discussion of surgical decision making encompasses the type of surgical approach, as well as indications and contraindications for MIS
• The roles of MIS procedures such as laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, radiology-based percutaneous techniques, as well as endovascular surgery are examined

The quintessential resource on contemporary Acute Care Surgery practice, this is a must-read for residents, junior faculty, and practicing surgeons in this discipline.