Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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In many parts of the world, hydrotherapy plays an important role in the management of patients with wounds including burns. Different centers practice hydrotherapy differently. At the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, burn patients use a common bathtub for cleaning their wounds which theoretically increases the risk of cross-infection, an important source of morbidity and mortality. There is currently no evidence that hydrotherapy as practiced at our institution leads to cross infection among patients with burns. ⋯ Hydrotherapy as currently practiced at the University Teaching Hospital does contribute significantly to cross-infection among burn patients with widely resistant organisms. The main ones are S. aureus and K. pneumoniae. Switching care to a shower mechanism might help eliminate this problem as the study demonstrates that no bacteria were found in the water samples.
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The purpose of this study was to establish patterns in types of burns referred to the Outpatient Clinic (OP) at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). ⋯ The results of our study demonstrate gaps in current provincial referral guidelines leading to a significant number of "unnecessary referrals." Further research could correlate the results to current provincial referral guidelines to estimate their current efficacy in practical use.
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Observational Study
A voltage-based analysis of fluid delivery and outcomes in burn patients with electrical injuries over a 6-year period.
Electrical injuries are associated with significant morbidity for affected patients. While cardiac and surgical interventions have been extensively reported, no practice guidelines or studies have specifically addressed fluid delivery and associated outcomes of patients with electrical injuries. The study objective was to evaluate the differences in fluid delivery in patients with high (≥1000V) and low (<1000V) voltage electrical injuries. ⋯ These results reinforce the importance of assessing electrical injuries and obtaining a voltage to provide patient-specific care, as high voltage electrical injuries receive more fluid than estimated maintenance rates. This study is the first of its kind to characterize fluid given for high and low voltage electrical injuries and effects on patient outcomes.
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Biobrane™ is a skin substitute used for the definitive management of partial thickness burns. No studies have examined the optimal timing of Biobrane™ application in this setting. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a clinically significant difference in applying Biobrane to a superficial and mid dermal partial thickness burn within 12h after burn. ⋯ Patients treated with application of Biobrane™ within 12h of superficial and mid dermal partial thickness burns have a statistically significant reduction in healing time when compared to patients treated with standard Biobrane™ practice.
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To provide an insight into the challenges faced by the closest hospital to the Formosa Fun Coast Dust Explosion (FFCDE) disaster scene, and to examine how the hospital staff adapted to cope with the mass burn casualty (MBC) in their overcrowded emergency department (ED) after the disaster. ⋯ In the hospital closest to the FFCDE disaster scene, it caused an overwhelming demand in an already crowded, beyond-nominal-capacity ED. This study describes how the hospital mobilized and reconfigured response capacity to cope with overload, uncertainty, and time pressure. These findings support improving disaster planning and preparedness for all healthcare entities through organizational support for adaptation and routine practice coping with unexpected scenarios.