Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association
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Severe burns induce a profound hypermetabolic response, leading to a prolonged state of catabolism associated with organ dysfunction and delay of wound healing. Oxandrolone, a synthetic testosterone analog, may alleviate the hypermetabolic catabolic state thereby decreasing associated morbidity. However, current literature has reported mixed outcomes on complications following Oxandrolone use, specifically liver and lung function. ⋯ Oxandrolone did not change the incidence of transient liver dysfunction or mechanical ventilation requirements. There is evidence to suggest that Oxandrolone is a beneficial adjunct to the acute care of burn patients; shortening hospital stays and improving several growth and wound healing parameters. It does not appear that Oxandrolone increases the risk of progressive or transient liver injury, although monitoring liver enzymes is recommended.
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Meta Analysis
Emergency Care of the Burn Patient Before the Burn Center: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Good burn care starts with correct management of the burn patient before transfer to a burn center. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of the medical literature describing preburn center care. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed for this review. ⋯ Analgesics were often not given or were of insufficient dose. Many elements of preburn center care need improvement. These findings should be used to form the foundation of future initiatives between burn professionals and emergency providers to improve care of the burn patient before transfer to a burn center.
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Burn size estimation is a crucial component of acute burn management that guides referral to burn centers, fluid resuscitation parameters, hospital resource distribution, and mortality-based interventions. Referring providers often misestimate the total BSA (TBSA) of burn injury, which contributes to unnecessary healthcare costs, misappropriation of limited resources, and delay in provision of appropriate patient care. A systematic literature review of articles available on PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, OvidSP Medline, and Web of Science was performed. ⋯ TBSA misestimation is associated with an increased incidence of inappropriate transfers to burn centers and the associated costs. The data remains lacking, however, and larger studies are required to further elucidate the clinical impact of such errors. A systematic approach with telemedicine-facilitated computer-based burn assessments is required.
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Recent introduction of rapid bromelain-based enzymatic debridement has been increasingly popular in its use in nonsurgical debridement in deep partial and full thickness burns. We designed this study to evaluate the evidence suggested by current studies on the perceived benefits of using Nexobrid® compared with traditional surgical standard of care in burns wound debridement. A comprehensive search on electronic databases Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science was done to identify studies published between 1986 and 2017 involving the use of Nexobrid® in deep partial and full thickness burns. ⋯ Incidence of pain was also evaluated and was mainly anecdotal lacking formal objective assessment or cohort study. Despite the lack of literatures available, the benefits of Nexobrid® are evident in published randomized and single arm studies. Large number of studies is needed to aid further evaluating the proposed benefits of Nexobrid®.
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Review Case Reports
Bowel Necrosis and 3 Limb Amputation From High-Voltage Electrical Injury.
The objective of this study was to report the case and multidisciplinary management of a 44-year-old man with 40% TBSA third- and fourth-degree burns sustained during high-voltage electrical injury including 3 limb amputation and bowel necrosis requiring small bowel resection. This study is a case report and review of the literature. A 44-year-old man was brought to the Emergency Department with 40% TBSA third- and fourth-degree burns sustained during accidental contact with high-voltage electric current. ⋯ He also sustained a visceral injury and underwent small bowel resection. While amputations are very common in electrical burn injuries, visceral electrical injuries are not. High-voltage electrical injuries are devastating multisystem insults that require multidisciplinary critical and operative care.