Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association
-
Comparative Study
Epidemiology and outcome analysis of severe extensive burns: a 12-year summary of 103 cases in a burn center in China.
The purpose of this article is to improve the treatment of severe extensive burns (SEB) patients by summarizing treatment experience in recent 12 years in China and analyzing the follow-up quality of life (QOL) in these patients. Clinical data and rescue measures of 103 SEB patients (≥70% TBSA) admitted in a burn center in Shanghai between 1997 and 2009 were reviewed, and QOL and hand function of those who survived more than 2 years were assessed by Brief Version of Burn Specific Health scale-B and Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire. Of these, 76.7% were caused by flames and 15.5% caused by scald. ⋯ Flame burns remain to be the main cause of SEB in China in recent 12 years. Treatment is still challenged because of the depth and extensive burn area and high occurrence of multiple system complications. How to ameliorate QOL of SEB patients, intensify the functional rehabilitation, and improve their physical appearance in particular remain to be a crux.
-
Comparative Study
Clinical progression and outcome of dysphagia following thermal burn injury: a prospective cohort study.
The objectives of this study were 1) to establish clinical profiles of dysphagic and nondysphagic individuals following thermal burn injury and 2) to provide a clinical profile of the progression and outcome of dysphagia resolution by hospital discharge for a dysphagic cohort. A total of 438 consecutively admitted patients with thermal burns were included. All patients underwent a clinical swallowing examination. ⋯ Dysphagia had resolved in 50% of the cohort by week 6, and by hospital discharge, 85% of the dysphagic individuals had resumed normal oral intake of thin fluids and a general diet. This is the first large prospective cohort study to establish clinical profiles of dysphagic and nondysphagic cohorts and document the nature of dysphagia and patterns of recovery within the thermal burn population. These current data will assist the allocation and planning of speech-language pathology services and provide baseline data on the course of dysphagia resolution in the adult thermal burn population.
-
Comparative Study
Correlation of American Burn Association sepsis criteria with the presence of bacteremia in burned patients admitted to the intensive care unit.
Severe burn injury is accompanied by a systemic inflammatory response, making traditional indicators of sepsis both insensitive and nonspecific. To address this, the American Burn Association (ABA) published diagnostic criteria in 2007 to standardize the definition of sepsis in these patients. These criteria include temperature (>39°C or <36°C), progressive tachycardia (>110 beats per minute), progressive tachypnea (>25 breaths per minute not ventilated or minute ventilation >12 L/minute ventilated), thrombocytopenia (<100,000/μl; not applied until 3 days after initial resuscitation), hyperglycemia (untreated plasma glucose >200 mg/dl, >7 units of insulin/hr intravenous drip, or >25% increase in insulin requirements over 24 hours), and feed intolerance >24 hours (abdominal distension, residuals two times the feeding rate, or diarrhea >2500 ml/day). ⋯ Only heart rate and temperature were found to significantly correlate with bacteremia on multivariate analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve area for meeting >3 ABA sepsis criteria is 0.638 (95% confidence interval 0.573-0.704; P < .001). Among severe burn patients, the ABA trigger for sepsis did not correlate strongly with bacteremia in this retrospective chart review.
-
Comparative Study
Engaging older adults in burn prevention education: results of a community-based urban initiative.
The objective of the study is to educate New York City seniors aged 60 years and older about fire safety and burn prevention through the use of a community-based, culturally sensitive delivery platform. The ultimate goal is to reduce burn injury morbidity and mortality among this at-risk population. Programming was developed and provided to older adults attending community-based senior centers. ⋯ A majority reported learning new information, found the presentation helpful, and intended to apply this knowledge to daily routines. Data confirm that many opportunities exist to deliver culturally sensitive burn prevention programming to the older adult population of this large metropolitan area in settings that are part of their daily lives. A majority of respondents welcomed the information, perceived it as helpful, and reported that they were likely to integrate the information into their lives.
-
Extensive postburn scars of the trunk may cause breathing difficulty and, in female patients of reproductive age, render future pregnancy a serious reconstructive goal. Scar excision and skin grafting with or without artificial dermal templates is the current preferred management. A patient who underwent staged extensive grafting of the abdominal wall by dermal regeneration template and completed a full-term successful pregnancy is presented here. ⋯ Six months postoperatively, spirometric values were improved by 15%, while 1 year later the patient completed successfully a full-term pregnancy. Reconstruction of extensive abdominal postburn scars by dermal regeneration template improves breathing by increasing elasticity and compliance of the reconstructed area. In female patients, the template can be extensively and naturally expanded by the gradually growing uterus, allowing for full-term pregnancy.