How long do you have to put abdomen contents back into casualty?

• A. <60 sec.
• B. 60-120 sec
• C. Indeterminate
• D. 5-10 minutes

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is the urgency of managing abdominal evisceration in the field. If the viscera are exposed, you should reinsert them as quickly as possible to protect tissue viability and reduce contamination and heat loss until definitive care is available. Doing this within 60 seconds minimizes desiccation and the risk of infection, improving the casualty’s chances when they reach surgery. After reinsertion, cover with sterile, moist dressings and proceed with rapid evacuation.

Choosing a longer time window (60–120 seconds or 5–10 minutes) increases the period of exposure, raising the risk of tissue damage and contamination. An indeterminate timeframe would fail to emphasize the critical urgency needed in this situation.