Trauma, Critical Care and General Surgery in Rochester

The Division of Trauma, Critical Care and General Surgery actively pursues multiple fields of clinical and translational research that relate directly to patients. Division members have completed numerous National Institutes of Health-funded clinical and basic science clinical trials. More than a dozen surgeons engage in research activities in trauma, surgical critical care and emergency general surgery.

Trauma

Division research on controlling hemorrhage includes novel blood product transfusion techniques including fresh whole blood and transfusion prior to arrival at the hospital. Researchers also study inappropriate blood clotting, which leads to deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolus and early diagnosis of urinary tract infections in older trauma patients.

Acute general surgery

Division researchers have developed a model to predict the need for small bowel obstruction operations to reduce unnecessary surgeries. Surgeons also are studying various types of mesh for hernia repair and the effects that Botox has on hernia pain and recurrence.

Surgical critical care

Division researchers have an intense interest in assessing the appropriate amount of fluid and blood products to give patients who are in shock. In addition, surgeons focus on improving damage-control laparotomy.

Clinical trials

Mayo Clinic's clinical trials include an evaluation of best ways to use existing treatments, experimental treatments (often unavailable elsewhere), and exploration of genetic and protein markers in the blood and tumors to better understand, prevent and treat cancer. See a listing of Mayo Clinic clinical trials.

Publications

See a list of publications by Mayo Clinic physicians on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

Research Profiles