REVIEW   Open access

Minerva Surgery 2023 December;78(6):692-709

DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5691.23.09916-1

Copyright © 2023 THE AUTHORS

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language: English

Debunking the lethal triad and delineating damage control surgery

Fabrizio G. BONANNO ✉

Department of Surgery, Polokwane Provincial Hospital Cnr Hospital, Polokwane, South Africa

The last three decades of literature in trauma have been erroneously hammered by the belief the lethal triad (LT) of acidosis, hypothermia and coagulopathy was, as claimed originally, the statutory rationale underlying for the application of damage control surgery (DCS) strategy. As a matter of fact, the LT is not all lethal: only acidosis is lethal and a reliable hard sign for DCS, indicating severe levels of hypoxemia and tissues hypoxia. The mainstream flow of events leading to exitus in hemorragic shock pass through macro and microcirculation dynamics, oxygen, acidosis, and ischemia-reperfusion toxemia. It is solely by interfering or manipulating these variables dynamics that we can decrease morbidity and mortality. A solid synoptic list of the indications and timing of DCS has been elaborated.

KEY WORDS: Hypothermia; Blood coagulation disorders; Surgery