• R D Robertson, P Bond, B Wallace, K Shewmake, and J Cone.
• Department of General Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Slot 520, 4301 West Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
• Burns. 2001 Dec 1;27(8):835-8.

IntroductionBurn surgery is complicated by blood loss. The tumescent technique of subdermal injection of epinephrine has been utilized to decrease intraoperative blood loss. We hypothesized that this would safely decrease blood loss during burn surgery.MethodsTwenty patients utilized the tumescent technique. The tumescent group had subdermal injections of epinephrine beneath the excision and donor site plus thrombin spray and warm saline soaked laparotomy pads. Ten patients grafted prior to adopting the tumescent technique utilized thrombin spray and warm saline soaked laparotomy pads for hemostasis. Blood loss was determined by operative estimation and calculation. Data were analyzed by Student's t-test and paired t-test.ResultsThe two groups were demographically similar. The tumescent group had significantly less total blood loss and blood loss per unit area excised. There were no clinically detectable arrythmias, changes in heart rate or blood pressure noted.ConclusionsThe tumescent technique significantly reduced intraoperative blood loss. It is safe, inexpensive and easy to use. The subdermal epinephrine/saline injection creates a smooth, tense surface which assists with debridement and donor harvest.

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