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

Area of Science:

• General Surgery
• Surgical Critical Care
• Trauma Surgery

Context:

• Emergency surgery is crucial but faces challenges like staff shortages and inadequate capabilities.
• The emergence of specialized departments of emergency surgery highlights the need for improved models.
• Traditional general surgery structures struggle to address the complexities of acute surgical conditions.

Purpose:

• To introduce the concept and development of Acute Care Surgery (ACS).
• To analyze the current status and challenges of ACS in China.
• To provide insights into the future trends of ACS for its advancement.

Summary:

• Acute Care Surgery (ACS) integrates trauma, emergency general surgery, and surgical critical care, addressing limitations in traditional emergency surgical departments.
• This integrated model, developed in the US, has shown significant global success and is being adopted in China.
• The article reviews the evolution, current landscape, and future prospects of ACS in China, aiming to foster its development.

Impact:

• Highlights the benefits of an integrated approach to emergency surgical care.
• Provides a roadmap for the development and implementation of Acute Care Surgery in China.
• Aims to improve treatment outcomes and resource utilization in emergency surgical settings.