Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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The DermaLab Combo(®) is a device with potential to make objective measurements of key scar components - pigmentation, vascularity, pliability and thickness. This study assessed the inter-rater and test-retest reliability of these measurements. ⋯ The DermaLab Combo(®) measured pigmentation, thickness and pliability with "excellent" reliability. If future studies provide protocols to improve test-retest reliability of vascularity measurements and obtain pliability measurements more successfully, the DermaLab Combo(®) will be valuable device for scar assessment.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
A pilot review of gradual versus goal re-initiation of enteral nutrition after burn surgery in the hemodynamically stable patient.
Severe weight loss resulting from inadequate nutritional intake along with the hypermetabolism after thermal injury can result in impaired immune function and delayed wound healing. This observational study was conducted on adults admitted between October 2007 and April 2012 with at least 20% total body surface area burn requiring excision who previously tolerated gastric enteral nutrition at calorie goal and who returned from surgery hemodynamically stable (no new pressor requirement) and compared the effect of goal rate re-initiation versus slow re-initiation after the first excision and grafting. Demographic, intake, and tolerance data were collected during the 36h following surgery and were analyzed with descriptive and comparative statistics. ⋯ There were no incidences of emesis, aspiration, or ischemic bowel in either group. The goal rate re-initiation group had a 29% incidence of either stool output >1L (n=1) or gastric residual volumes >500mL (n=1), whereas these were not present in the slow re-initiation group (p=0.462). In conclusion, in this small pilot study, we found that enteral nutrition could be re-initiated after the first excision and grafting in those patients who previously tolerated gastric enteral nutrition meeting caloric goals who return from surgery hemodynamically stable without a significant difference in intolerance and with a significantly higher percentage of calorie goals achieved, but larger studies are required.
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Determine the effect of inhalation injury on burn-induced hypermetabolism in children. ⋯ Inhalation injury does not augment the burn-induced hypermetabolic stress response in children, as reflected by resting energy expenditure and oxygen consumption.
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There is minimal insight into the prevalence of reconstructive surgery after burns. The objective of this study was to analyse the prevalence, predictors, indications, techniques and medical costs of reconstructive surgery after burns. ⋯ With this study we elucidated the reconstructive needs of patients after burns. The data presented can be used as reference in future studies that aim to improve scar quality of burns and decrease the need for reconstructive surgery.