This book provides a practical guide to decision making within the realm of trauma surgery. Each chapter covers the ideal approach, rather than customary care, for the treatment of the chosen difficult decision or controversy. A broad range of topics are covered with particular attention given to resuscitation, wound management, thoracic and abdominal trauma, antimicrobial management, transplant considerations, vascular trauma, traumatic brain injury, pediatric trauma and ethics.
Difficult Decisions in Trauma Surgery aims to help improve the treatment of trauma patients and is relevant to surgical trainees and practicing surgeons, and as well as medical professionals working within trauma medicine.

Part I: Resuscitation

Difficult Decisions in Trauma - Is ABC the Right Mantra?
What is the Clinical Impact of Whole Blood as Compared to Component Therapy in Civilian Trauma?
Does Helicopter Transport to Level I Trauma Centers Improve Mortality
Futility of Care in Hemorrhagic Shock: When Prolonging the Massive Transfusion Protocol is of No Benefit
In the exsanguinating trauma patient does REBOA, compared with resuscitative thoracotomy (RT), result in lower complications, morbidity, and mortality?
Part II: Wound Management
In Patients with Traumatic Extremity Wounds is Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Superior as Compared to Standard Dressing Changes?
Enterocutaneous Fistula Management in Trauma
Part III: Antimicrobial Management
Does prophylactic antibiotics for emergent tube thoracostomy decrease rates of infection?
Antibiotics Prophylaxis after Penetrating Colon Injuries
Antibiotic Regimen in Treating Complicated Intra-abdominal Infections
Is Vaccine Prophylaxis Necessary for Patients Undergoing Splenic Embolization?
Part IV: Trauma Imaging
The Trauma Pan-Scan: Who Benefits from Immediate Whole-Body Imaging?
Non-Selective Arterial Embolization for Pelvic Fractures
Clinical clearance of the cervical spine in the presence of a distracting injury
MRI Clearance for the Cervical Spine
Part V: Traumatic Brain Injury
Difficult Decisions in Surgery: An Evidence-Based Approach ECMO safety in the setting of traumatic brain injury
Can Abdominal Decompression Improve Refractory Intracranial Hypertension?
Is there an Optimal Screening tool to Best Diagnose and Treat Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury (BCVI)?
Part VI: Abdominal Trauma
Does specific sequencing of operative interventions in thoracoabdominal trauma improve outcomes?
Selective Nonoperative Management for Abdominal Gunshot Wounds
What is the optimal management of traumatic duodenal injury?
Timing of Ostomy Reversal in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Part VII: Thoracic Trauma
Resuscitative Thoracotomy
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Patients with Traumatic Injury and Respiratory Failure
Is There a Gold Standard for Screening Blunt Cardiac Injury?
Optimal Chest Tube Size for Hemothorax Evacuation
Should Intrapleural Fibrinolytic Therapy be a First-Line Therapy for Post-Traumatic Retained Hemothoraces?
Rib Plating in the Acute Trauma Setting
Does Thoracic Irrigation at the Time of Chest Tube Placement Decrease the Incidence of a Retained Hemothorax?
The Timing of VATS for a Retained Hemothorax
Part VIII: Ethics
Donation after Cardiac Death in the Emergency Department
Resuscitative Thoracotomy for Organ Donation
Resilience training for the trauma surgeon
Youth Violence Prevention:  Violence Recovery Programs.- Part IX: Peripheral Vascular Trauma
Are Temporary Vascular Shunts (TVS) Effective Damage Control Adjuncts for Limb Salvage?
Difficult Decisions in Surgery: An Evidence-Based Approach Limb salvage for the mangled extremity
Part X: Pediatric Trauma
The use of FAST in the Pediatric Trauma Setting
Selective Nonoperative Management of Children with Penetrating Abdominal Trauma
Are outcomes equivalent for injured children treated at pediatric or adult trauma centers, and what are the implications with respect to the design of optimal trauma systems?.