Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effect of topical and subcutaneous epinephrine in combination with topical thrombin in blood loss during immediate near-total burn wound excision in pediatric burned patients.
Bleeding is a major concern during burn wound excision. To evaluate the efficacy of epinephrine to control blood loss, a prospective cohort of 42 pediatric patients were examined. Half of the patients received topical epinephrine to excised wounds and donor sites and subcutaneous epinephrine to scalp donor sites during total burn excision, while the other half did not. ⋯ In conclusion, no differences in blood loss were found between the groups. The routine use of local epinephrine during total wound excision in combination with topical thrombin in pediatric patients operated within 24 h after the admission may not be necessary. The effect of topical thrombin on blood loss should be analyzed separately.