Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
-
Oxandrolone is a synthetic oral non-aromatizable testosterone derivative. This drug has been used successfully for several decades to safely treat growth delays in various diseases including Turner's syndrome. Currently the use of oxandrolone is under clinical testing in children with burn injury; the available data indicate that the anabolic steroid increases net muscle protein balance, maintains lean body mass, and reduces intensive care unit stay. ⋯ Multiple burn-induced inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IP-10, G-CSF, GM-CSF and interferon-γ) were significantly lower in the plasma of oxandrolone-treated animals after burn injury than in the plasma of controls subjected to burns. Finally, oxandrolone significantly accelerated burn wound healing. We conclude that oxandrolone improves organ function, modulates the systemic inflammatory response and accelerates wound healing in a murine model of burn injury.
-
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a complication that affects approximately 40% of burn patients and is associated with high mortality rates. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy is a management option for severe refractory hypoxemic respiratory failure; however, there is little literature reporting the effectiveness of this therapy in burns. Our study objective was to review patient outcomes in burns following severe ARDS treated with ECMO. ⋯ Mortality in burn patients with ARDS who are managed with ECMO is extremely low. Careful selection and timely intervention with ECMO contributed to good clinical outcomes.