Damage Control Surgery and Abdominal Compartment Syndrome: Opening Pandora’s Box

Activity Summary

Required reading for all learners: Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes

Damage control surgery and temporary abdominal closure (TAC) are now the standard of care for managing bleeding and infectious or ischemic processes in the critically ill. Damage control use has evolved from trauma care to its application in abdominal compartment syndrome. Critical care nurses are key in managing postoperative resuscitation and complex wound techniques. Nurses learn to strategize high-level interventions based on best-practice recommendations for damage control surgery and TAC.

Objectives

Analyze the risks in varied patient populations for the onset of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS).
Distinguish indications for damage control surgery in settings of trauma and in the many medical/surgical conditions that can yield IAH and ACS.
Devise a plan of care for patients undergoing damage control surgery and TAC for IAH and ACS from all causes.

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

Learners must complete the entire activity and the associated evaluation to be awarded contact hours AND read Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes. No partial credit will be awarded.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider number CEP 1036, for 1.25 contact hours.

Disclosure

Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content will be identified by the Nurse Planner within the activity. Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content has been mitigated.

Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN, ANCC, or CBRN approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity.

Activities with pharmacology hours are to assist the APRN in fulfilling the pharmacotherapeutic education requirements for licensure and certification renewals.

Activities meet the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your own state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting your certificate of completion.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.