<p>PROLOGUE<br>In the heart of every hospital, amidst the hum of machinery and the flurry of activity, there exists a realm where seconds can mean the difference between life and death. This is the world of trauma, emergency general surgery, and surgical critical care?a world that demands unwavering precision, rapid decision-making, and an unyielding commitment to saving lives.<br>As practitioners in these demanding fields, we are acutely aware o...