Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Potential therapeutic effects of topical recombinant human erythropoietin on burn wound healing: A preliminary randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial.
Burn injuries can cause significant mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of topical recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on enhancing burn wound healing. ⋯ At the second follow-up visit, all parameters were significantly lower in the rhEPO group compared with the control group except for itchiness. The results of the next two follow-up sessions were also the same. The total value of the modified Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) at days 5, 7, and 14 was significantly lower in the rhEPO group compared with the routine of care group. Trial Registry Date: 2022-03-02, Trial Registry number: IRCT20190810044500N23 CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggested that topical rhEPO is a potential option in burn wounds and patient satisfaction, without causing intolerable side effects.
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Review Meta Analysis
Efficacy of triamcinolone acetonide combined with botulinum toxin A in the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids: A meta-analysis.
This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of triamcinolone acetonide (TCA) combined with botulinum toxin type A (BTA) for treating hypertrophic scars and keloids. ⋯ This meta-analysis showed that the combined use of BTA and TCA demonstrates high effectiveness in scar treatment, but its influence on scar thickness is limited. Future research should further explore the sources of heterogeneity and validate the long-term effects and safety of this therapy.
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This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) of MRSA nasal swabs for pneumonia in burn-injured intensive care unit (ICU) patients. ⋯ The high specificity and NPV indicate that negative MRSA nasal swabs obtained less than seven days from antibiotic initiation may be used to de-escalate anti-MRSA antibiotics in clinically stable burn-injured patients with suspicion of pneumonia. The decrease in NPV suggests that it may be beneficial to obtain a repeat swab periodically.
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Disaster simulation exercises are important to test service processes, capabilities, and deficiencies; disaster response planning should encompass the entire multidisciplinary team over an extended period. Our service simulated a modest eight burn casualty scenario to test our service capabilities over a 10-week period across medical, nursing, and allied health professions. Requirements due to the mass burns casualty cohort were predicted in terms of theatre requirements, allied health treatment hours required, and nursing hours requirements. ⋯ This simulation clearly demonstrated the high and immediate increase in workload demands across all professions over a prolonged 10-week period and that high business-as-usual demand can greatly affect staff capacity to cope with a mass casualty surge in admissions. It was able to provide evidence, and awareness, for leadership and management on the need for resources and resource re-allocation in a mass burn casualty scenario. It also informed a review of our current triggers for activating our SA Health Multiple Burns Plan.
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In resource-limited environments, it is critical to triage burn patients most likely to benefit from operative intervention. This study sought to identify patients with a more significant treatment effect after operative intervention following burn injury at a tertiary burn center in Lilongwe, Malawi. ⋯ Operative intervention confers a survival advantage for patients with flame burns, and the average treatment effect was more significant compared to patients with scald burns. In general, in resource-limited environments flame burns should be prioritized for surgery over scald burns to improve patient outcomes.