Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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The burn specific pain anxiety scale (BSPAS) is a nine-item self-report scale for the assessment of pain-related and anticipatory anxiety in burned patients. This paper describes a study designed to explore the psychometric properties of the scale. ⋯ The alpha coefficient was high: 0.94. The BSPAS correlated statistically significantly with the STAI-S, procedural pain, non-procedural pain, and nurses' visual analog observation ratings of tension.
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Anisodamine restores bowel circulation in burn shock.
In a group of eight burn patients with a mean of 65.3 +/- 17.4 per cent TBSA burn injury (range 50-90 per cent TBSA), accompanied by a mean of 43.5 +/- 18.9 per cent TBSA full-thickness injury, it was shown that the evidence of global hypovolaemia had disappeared at 12 h after the injury following aggressive fluid resuscitation, while there was still a subnormal pHi of stomach at 48 h. As a prolonged period of inadequacy of oxygen delivery to the intestine might result in impairment of the intestinal mucosal barrier function, and then endogenous endotoxaemia might ensue, it seems to be important to correct intestinal hypoxia as early as possible. Since the inadequate perfusion to the gut wall is due to selective vasoconstriction of the mesenteric vasculature, logic dictates that the use of a vasodilator is in order. ⋯ Plasma endotoxin and TNF contents were measured, and they were significantly lower than control values after 72 h. In conclusion, it is believed that anisodamine might be a valuable adjunct to the resuscitation regime of burn shock, and, therefore, a promising drug to abate endogenous endotoxaemia subsequent to splanchnic vasoconstriction due to hypovolaemia. The shortcomings of the drug were a mild abdominal distention and tachycardia after its administration.
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Comparative Study
The cutometer and ultrasonography in the assessment of postburn hypertrophic scar--a preliminary study.
Sixteen patients with various degrees of postburn hypertrophic scars were evaluated by ultrasonography and elastometry. An Aloka Echo Camera (SSD-500) with a 7.5 MHz probe and a Cutometer SEM 575 skin elastometer were used. Serial monthly examinations were performed using both pieces of equipment. ⋯ Cutometer SEM 575 is a new machine that applies a gentle suction to the skin to measure its viscoelasticity. It is sensitive, the inter-observer variation is low, and it could be used for the grading of a scar. These two assessment techniques compliment other methods of scar assessment and will prove useful when assessment of response to treatment is required.
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Pressure garments are the mainstay of burn scar management despite limited scientific evidence. This study demonstrates a simple method of directly measuring the cutaneous pressures generated by a pressure garment. The results show pressure garments generate an increase in subdermal pressures in the range 9-90 mmHg depending on the anatomical site. ⋯ Over bony prominences the pressures range from 47 to 90 mmHg. This method is believed to be more representative of the pressures generated than the interpositional techniques that measure garment-skin interface pressure, as it avoids garment distortion, the interference effect of the measurement device (size, conformation, area) and directly measures subdermal pressures. The method should be useful for larger research projects on pressure therapy and also for clinical management of pressure garments in the treatment of hypertrophic scar.
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Shack fire burns are the second most common reason for admission of patients to the burns unit in Cape Town. A retrospective analysis of 99 patients between January 1993 and June 1995 was undertaken to investigate the demographics and mortality associated with shack fire burns. There were 58 males and 41 females with an average age of 34 years (range 13-17 years). ⋯ Thirty nine patients (39.4 per cent) died. Shack burns are a specific entity associated with significant morbidity and a high mortality. The injuries had a major impact on the victim's life and prevention is the best form of treatment.