In addition to treating acutely injured patients, the Center for Trauma and Critical Care (CTACC) also treats patients with general surgical emergencies. These patients are referred from outside facilities (855-SEND-2-GW) and from the Emergency Department / Inpatient setting. Because we have the resources and expertise required of a Level 1 trauma center, CTACC is able to also treat all non-trauma related surgical emergencies.
Most recently, GW CTACC has incorporated robotics into our practice such that many operations that were formerly performed using an open approach are now being done robotically. These include: graham patch repairs, diaphragmatic injuries, hernias, bowel obstructions, and others. This technique minimizes post-operative pain and allows patients to go home several days earlier than they otherwise could.