The establishment of acute care surgery (ACS) in China addresses the critical gaps in the management of emergency surgical conditions. Recognizing the necessity for trained specialists capable of responding to complex surgical emergencies, this initiative aims to enhance the delivery of care for critically ill patients and improve the outcomes in surgical emergencies. Many emergency surgery departments lack dedicated inpatient wards and intensive care units, leading to insufficient management of critically ill patients. In response, China has developed a comprehensive organizational structure for ACS, integrating multiple surgical specialties and establishing standardized wards. This initiative includes the formation of the ACS Expert Working Group and the Alliance for Abdominal Trauma and ACS, which collectively promote resource sharing and improve the infrastructure for surgical care. The collaboration has resulted in over 200 member units nationwide, focusing on the creation of a surgical rescue network to facilitate timely information sharing and efficient management of emergencies. The establishment of ACS in China represents a significant advancement in surgical practice, improving the overall quality of care for critically ill patients. The continued efforts are essential for standardizing ACS practices across the country, which will ultimately enhance the treatment success rates and reduce the complications in emergency surgical cases.
Wang et al. (2025) studied this question.