Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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This study reviewed records of all electrical incidents involving work-related injury to employees Electricité de France (EDF) from 1996 through 2005 and analysed data for 311 incidents. The results are compared with 1231 electrical incidents that occurred during 1970-1979 and 996 incidents during 1980-1989. A total of 311 electrical incidents were observed. ⋯ Among the neurological sequelae, peripheral nervous system disorders are the most common, as observed in the 1980s. Since the definition of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has changed between the two periods, we can only report that the current prevalence of PTSD is 7.6%. This study emphasises the need for specific management of neurological and psychological impairments after electrical injuries, including especially early recognition and initiation of effective treatment.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Prediction of effect-site concentration of sufentanil by dose-response target controlled infusion of sufentanil and propofol for analgesic and sedation maintenance in burn dressing changes.
This study was to investigate the feasibility and efficiency of by target-controlled infusion (TCI) for analgesia and sedation during burn dressing change, and to predict the effect-site concentration of sufentanil. Eighty burn patients were randomly and evenly divided into four groups according to target sufentanil effect-site concentration (0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 ng/ml). The sufentanil-propofol TCI was carried out during dressing changes. ⋯ One and three patients had respiratory depression in the 0.4 and 0.5 ng/ml groups, respectively. No adverse events occurred after operations. In conclusion, low dose sufentanil-propofol TCI for anesthesia and sedation maintenance in burn dressing changes is feasible and effective, and wound management requires higher effect-site concentrations of sufentanil than disclosing inner layer dressings.
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Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) caused by Vibrio infection is one of the most fatal diseases, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and effective surgical intervention are the mainstays for better outcomes for affected patients. Currently, standard surgical management calls for prompt and aggressive debridement and amputation. However, due to its rapid progression and deterioration, 50-60% of Vibrio NF cases present with septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction on admission. These patients, who usually have many surgical contraindications, are unable to tolerate a prolonged aggressive surgical debridement. Therefore, determining the optimal surgical intervention for these particularly severe patients remains a formidable problem in emergency medicine. ⋯ The temporizing strategy, with early initiation of simple incisions and drainage under regional anesthesia followed by complete debridement 24h later, is more feasible and effective for patients with Vibrio NF complicated with septic shock, as compared with the aggressive surgical debridement strategy.
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Domestic plastic wrap has been recommended as an appropriate acute burn wound dressing in the Emergency Management of Severe Burns course. There remain limited studies reporting the risk of infection associated with this dressing. ⋯ Our data suggest that the potential for plastic wrap to act as a fomite when used as an acute burn wound dressing is extremely low.