Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association
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This report summarizes the characteristics of 954 burned patients treated with cultured epidermal autografts (CEA), the largest number of patients to date. Data collected include patient demographics, survival, and final graft take. Source data were provided by the treating physician or attending burn team. ⋯ The most frequently reported adverse reactions were infections in both pediatric and adult patients. There were no signals of increased risk of adverse reactions in pediatric compared with adult patients. When used as an adjunct to conventional split-thickness skin grafting for treatment of large burns in pediatric and adult patients, the analysis in this report shows an increased survival rate for patients treated with CEA compared with that reported for patients in the National Burn Repository with comparable burns.
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Surrounding the zone of coagulation is the zone of stasis, which is characterized as a mix of viable and nonviable cells, capillary vasoconstriction, and ischemia. Saving the zone of stasis is a major subject of the burn wound studies. If pathological changes in the zone of stasis can be minimized, conversion of burn wounds may be prevented. ⋯ Comparing the necrotic area between the groups, PTX apparently had lower rate of necrosis. PTX treatment increased re-epithelialization of burns wounds. Our study concluded that systemic treatment of burns by PTX enhances burn wound healing and helps salvaging the damaged but live cells in the zone of stasis by increasing the rate of epithelization, decreasing the necrotic area and preventing the deepening of the burn wound.
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Little has been published regarding intravenous (IV) ketamine for burn wound care in adult patients. Ketamine may serve as a safe alternative to provide conscious sedation and limit opioid administration to patients. The purpose of this study was to characterize IV ketamine use during burn wound care and establish its potential role as a safe adjunct to opioid and benzodiazepine medications. ⋯ There were no cardiopulmonary complications. These findings suggest that IV ketamine provides a safe analgesia and sedative option for burn wound care. Given these findings, IV ketamine for burn wound care warrants further study.
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Isokinetic dynamometry is used during exercise testing and rehabilitation to obtain a quantitative strength measurement on which progressive strength training programs can be based. This study assesses the test-retest reliability of isokinetic leg function in the knee flexors and extensors at 150 degrees/second in children and young adults with severe burns to be used for rehabilitation exercise program prescription. In 39 severely burned patients (49 ± 14% total body surface area burn [TBSA], mean ± SD; 34 ± 21% TBSA 3 rd degree; 14 ± 5 years, 153.3 ± 16.5 cm height; 53.8 ± 17.9 kg) knee flexion/extension isokinetic dynamometry at 150 degrees/second was performed on each patient's dominant leg in two sessions. ⋯ Sessions did not differ significantly in knee extension or flexion for any muscle function outcome or the hamstrings to quadriceps ratio. All intraclass correlation coefficients were >0.89 and r2 >0.79. Test-retest isokinetic dynamometry functional measurements in the knee flexors and extensors at 150 degrees/second are reliable in the burn population and may aid resistance rehabilitation program prescriptions.
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Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and morbid complication in patients with severe burn. The reported incidence of AKI and mortality in this population varies widely due to inconsistent and changing definitions. They aimed to examine the incidence, severity, and hospital mortality of patients with AKI after burn using consensus criteria. ⋯ Presence of and increasing severity of AKI are associated with increased hospital mortality. AKI appears to be independently and strongly associated with mortality in patients with TBSA ≤ 40%. Further investigation to develop risk-stratification tools tailoring this susceptible population is direly needed.