Damage control surgery involves performing an abbreviated initial surgery to control hemorrhage, prevent contamination, and avoid further injury in critically injured patients. It is a multi-step process beginning with rapid transport and resuscitation at the scene (damage control resuscitation with permissive hypotension), followed by an abbreviated laparotomy in the operating room to arrest bleeding and control contamination without definitive repairs. The patient is then taken to the ICU to be stabilized, and a reoperation is performed 24-48 hours later to remove packs, perform definitive repairs, and close the abdomen. The goal is to stabilize the patient's physiology before performing more extensive surgery.