title: Physiologic rationale for abbreviated laparotomy.
abstract: Trauma patients who succumb to their injuries do so by one of several mechanisms discussed in this article. The most common include head injury, exsanguination, sepsis, and multiple organ failure. The article also discusses adverse consequences of hypothermia, including a model for calculating total heat loss.
authors.affiliation: Denver Health Medical Center, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Burch
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Denton
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Noble
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*