Management of damage control surgery and resuscitation at different stages of evacuation. Tough lesson from the frontier of Russian Ukrainian war
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1
DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OF UKRAINE, UKRAINE
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FORCES OF THE UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES, UKRAINE
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DANYLO HALYTSKY LVIV NATIONAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, LVIV, UKRAINE
Publication date: 2025-09-30
Wiadomości Lekarskie 2025;(9):1789-1797
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Aim: To provide analyzes of practical implementation of Prolonged Casualty Care (PCC) and Damage Control Surgery (DCS) principles in Ukrainian frontline
medical settings (MEDEVAC, Role I and Role II) under prolonged evacuation conditions during 2022–2024.
Materials and Methods: Clinical data were collected from multiple combat zones, focusing on indications for DCS, surgical interventions, postoperative
complications, and patient outcomes.
Results: Among all casualties treated at Role II facilities, 43% underwent DCS procedures, often dictated more by tactical constraints than by medical necessity.
The mortality rate in the DCS group was 5.9%, comparable to that of patients undergoing Early Total Care, definitive surgery on day of admission. The most
frequent complications included intestinal anastomotic leaks, hernias, pneumonia (9.2%), acute kidney injury (10.4%), and anemia requiring transfusion (7.2%).
Challenges in timely evacuation due to hostile drone activity, attacks on medical personnel, and terrain limitations led to a critical shift in trauma care paradigms.
Conclusions: Modern war dictate wider implementation of PCC and DCS.