Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Review Case Reports
Suprathel(®) for severe burns in the elderly: Case report and review of the literature.
Large burns in aged patients are common and treatment often reveals challenging. Cardiovascular complications significantly contribute to the unfavorable prognosis in this group of high-risk patients. Pain medication and sedation can negatively influence cardiovascular stability. ⋯ We present the case of an 81-year-old patient with 51% of total burned body surface area (ABSI=12), who was completely treated with Suprathel(®). Despite a predicted mortality of more than 80%, the patient survived and was discharged home without significant handicaps 69 days after burn. We hypothesize that Suprathel(®) beneficially contributed to the favorable clinical course of this critical patient as less frequent wound-dressing changes did not induce additional pain or sedative medication and thus improved cardiovascular stability.
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We aimed to describe the burden of fires in displaced persons settlements and identify interventions/innovations that might address gaps in current humanitarian guidelines. ⋯ The large and increasing number of fires in displaced persons settlements highlights the need to redress gaps in humanitarian fire prevention/control guidelines. The way forward includes: (i) developing consensus among aid agencies regarding fire prevention/control strategies; (ii) evaluating the impact of interventions/innovations on the burden of fires; and (iii) engaging agencies in a broader discussion about protecting camp residents from armed groups.
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While mortality rates after burn are low, physical and psychosocial impairments are common. Clinical research is focusing on reducing morbidity and optimizing quality of life. This study examines self-reported Satisfaction With Life Scale scores in a longitudinal, multicenter cohort of survivors of major burns. Risk factors associated with Satisfaction With Life Scale scores are identified. ⋯ In this large, longitudinal, multicenter cohort of burn survivors, satisfaction with life after burn was consistently lower than that of non-burn norms. Furthermore mean SWLS scores did not improve over the two-year follow-up period. This study demonstrates the need for continued efforts to improve patient-centered long term satisfaction with life after burn.
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO) burns are a huge global health problem resulting in death and devastation to those who survive large burns as they are faced with significant functional limitations that prevent purposeful and productive living. Members of the International Society for Burn Injuries (ISBI) Rehabilitation Committee conducted a needs assessment survey in order to characterize how burn rehabilitation is implemented worldwide and how the international burn rehabilitation community can help improve burn rehabilitation in identified geographic locations which need assistance in rehabilitating burn survivors successfully. ⋯ It appears that there are vast discrepancies in the areas of education, training and capacity to conduct research to improve the care of burn survivors as evidenced by the variation in responses between the RLEs and developed countries around the globe. In some cases, the problem is not knowledge, skill and ability to practice burn rehabilitation, but rather having the resources to do so due to financial difficulties.