Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40622570›Full record

SynthesisEuropean journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society2025

Does damage control surgery for abdominal trauma have a real impact on survival benefit in major trauma patients? A systematic review of literature with meta-analysis.

Michele Altomare, Andrea Spota, Stefano Piero Bernardo Cioffi, Silvia Gianola, Greta Castellini, Antonello Napoletano, Daniela Coclite, Primiano Iannone, Stefania Cimbanassi, Andrea Mingoli and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Primary repair and anastomosis in traumatic bowel injuries: a retrospective cohort study from a European trauma center.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Michele AltomareDepartment of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy. michele.altomare@ospedaleniguarda.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3879-2678
Andrea SpotaDepartment of Acute Care Surgery and Trauma Team, ASST GOM Niguarda, Milan, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, 20162, Milan, Italy.
Stefano Piero Bernardo CioffiDepartment of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Silvia GianolaIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Unità Di Epidemiologia Clinica, Milan, Italy.
Greta CastelliniIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Unità Di Epidemiologia Clinica, Milan, Italy.
Antonello NapoletanoIstituto Superiore Di Sanita', CNEC, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Daniela CocliteIstituto Superiore Di Sanita', CNEC, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Primiano IannoneOspedale Maggiore Di Bologna Carlo Pizzardi, L.Go Nigrisoli 2, 40133, Bologna, Italy.
Stefania CimbanassiDepartment of Acute Care Surgery and Trauma Team, ASST GOM Niguarda, Milan, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, 20162, Milan, Italy.
Andrea MingoliDepartment of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Osvaldo ChiaraDepartment of Medical-Surgical Physiopathology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Festa del Perdono 7, 20122, Milan, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTrauma remains a principal cause of mortality across all age groups, particularly in cases of major abdominal trauma and hemorrhage, which can lead to the 'lethal triad' of coagulopathy, metabolic acidosis, and hypothermia. This systematic review explores the efficacy of Damage Control Laparotomy (DCL) compared to definitive surgery (DEF) in major abdominal trauma.

methodsA systematic literature search following PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines was conducted across Medline, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases.

resultsSeven studies were found, including one randomized controlled trial (RCT) and six observational studies (OS). Mortality rates varied, with one observational study indicating higher 24-h mortality in the DCS group (OR 1.49, 95% CI 0.48, 4.68, I

conclusionAlthough DCS is frequently utilized in trauma care, its superiority over definitive surgery remains unestablished, with ethical considerations complicating randomized trials. This review suggests that while DCS may be beneficial under specific conditions, robust multicentric studies are essential to clarify its impact on mortality and health outcomes compared to conventional surgery in abdominal trauma.

Indexed as

Abdominal InjuriesLaparotomyHumansAcute care surgeryDamage control strategyDCSEmergency surgeryResuscitationSurgeryTrauma

Identifiers

PMID40622570

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.