• Eng-Kean Yeong, Kwang-Yi Tung, Chin-Hao Chang, and Shang-Jie Tsai.
• Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: eky1828@ntuh.gov.tw.
• J Formos Med Assoc. 2022 Dec 1; 121 (12): 251225192512-2519.

BackgroundAlthough blood test is a routine in major burns, its relationship with burn size and intensive care unit length of stay (ICULOS) remains undetermined. We investigated the feasibility of using these tests as a reference for definite diagnosis of major burn size, burn size >20% of the total body surface area (TBSA), and their relationships with ICULOS.MethodsData of routine laboratory blood tests within 24 h after burns (n = 73) were collected retrospectively. Correlation tests and regression analyses were performed.ResultsBurns ≥20 TBSA had higher incidences of leucocytosis, hypoalbuminaemia, elevated haemoglobin (Hb), and elevated haematocrit (Hct). Burn size was correlated negatively with albumin but positively with Hb, Hct, and white blood cell (WBC) count. For each unit increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/creatinine (Cr), there was an increase of 1.2 days of ICULOS in females, while in males, there was a 6.7 day increase for every unit increase in Hb and a 3.1 day increase for each unit increase in BUN. A female model including Hb and WBC was derived, discriminating burns ≥20 TBSA with sensitivity and specificity 0.94 and 1.0 respectively, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) 0.96 (95% CI 0.91-1.00). The male model had sensitivity 0.96, specificity 1.0, and AUROC 0.96 (95% CI 0.89-1.00).ConclusionAdmission Hb and WBC could be used as a reference for definite diagnosis of major burn size, especially in borderline cases. BUN/Cr in females, and Hb and BUN in males, were related to ICULOS.Copyright © 2022 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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