[Development process, current status, and future trends of acute care surgery]

Emergency surgery has always been an important component of general surgery, with major diseases including acute abdomen and trauma. With the differentiation and development of general surgery sub specialties, department of emergency surgery has begun to emerge, but its development faces various challenges, such as insufficient medical staff, inadequate treatment capabilities, and poor treatment outcomes. To change this situation, about 20 years ago, a new treatment model began to emerge in the United States, establishing a department of acute care surgery that integrates trauma, emergency general surgery, and surgical critical care. This model quickly spread worldwide and achieved remarkable achievements. In recent years, colleagues in the field of surgery in China have gradually recognized the advantages of this model and established acute care surgery. This article aims to elaborate on its development process, current situation, and future trends, providing reference for the prosperous development of acute care surgery in China.