Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
-
The aim of the present study is to analyze the changes of cure rate and the main causes of death in the last 40 years, and to summarize our experience in the treatment of extensive full-thickness burn patients. The clinical characteristics, cure rate and main causes of death of 73 cases with total burned area more than 90% TBSA and full-thickness burn area more than 70% TBSA were analyzed retrospectively. ⋯ The cure rate increased significantly in the recent years, and the main causes of death changed from shock and sepsis in the time period 1959-1978 to sepsis and MODS in the past two decades. Due to the improvement of early comprehensive management of burn shock, aggressive surgical approach to full-thickness burn wound and potent systemic supporting measures, the survival rate increased significantly.
-
Thirty-nine children suffering from peri-anal scar contracture as a result of burn injury have been treated since 1987. Among them, 25 were boys and 14 girls. Their age ranged from 6 months to 7 years, mean age 3.5 years. ⋯ In our opinion the latter technique should be the treatment of choice, as it is simple, less traumatic, and resulting to high success rate with less tendency to recurrence of contracture. For patients with chronic intestinal obstruction, adequate pre-operative bowel preparation, meticulous post-operative local care are essential. General supportive treatment should not be neglected to ensure a satisfactory operative result.