Guidelines for the development of acute care surgery

Acute care surgery (ACS) is defined by the fusion of trauma, emergency surgery, critical care medicine, and surgical rescue. It represents an innovative model for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with acute and severe surgical conditions. Compared to the traditional model, ACS combines the theories and techniques of trauma, critical care, and surgery into a unified framework, consolidating surgical wards and intensive care units under a single departmental structure for operational management. Patient care is led by physicians dually qualified in both surgery and critical care medicine. This model enhances operational efficiency and significantly reduces morbidity and mortality. Surgical rescue teams in multiple hospitals, both internationally and domestically, have undertaken exploratory efforts to develop ACS and have accumulated substantial experience. The Expert Working Group of ACS, Chinese Medical Doctor Association Division of Surgeons has formed a preliminary guideline for the development of ACS departments based on the current experience and accomplishment in China to provide a reference for hospitals at all levels.