Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
-
Severely burned patients occasionally suffer intestinal ischemia leading to a fatal outcome, and the gut is considered a "motor" driving the development of multiple organ failure. However, in clinical settings, it has been difficult to assess acute intestinal damage following burn and its consequence to patient outcome. Intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) is a known biomarker for diagnosing intestinal ischemia/damage. This study aimed to assess the extent of intestinal damage using serial I-FABP measurements following severe burn and to clarify the association between intestinal damage and the development of organ dysfunctions. ⋯ Serum level of I-FABP on admission day does not correlate with burn size, but with the deep burn area. The gut might be a crucial target organ following severe burn, and gut damage could have an important role in the development of multiple organ dysfunction.
-
This study aimed to determine if a scar quality is associated with quality of life (QoL) at six months post-burn and beyond. ⋯ mVSS total score, gender and burn size data may be a useful adjunct to experienced clinical judgment for identifying at risk patients and directing appropriate, timely resource allocation.
-
Comparative Study
Comparison of contraction among three dermal substitutes: Morphological differences in scaffolds.
Various kinds of synthetic dermal substitutes are produced and used in clinical application and contribute to wound bed preparation for subsequent skin grafting. Although their appearance and outcomes are different, the criteria for the selection of proper synthetic dermal substitutes is not well defined yet. In this study, we focused on the contraction of dermal substitutes and compared the morphological differences in scaffolds. ⋯ We also showed that the pore size of Pelnac® was smaller than that of Integra® and Terudermis®. The shape of the pore was oval in Pelnac®, whereas those in Integra® and Terudermis® were more circular. Differences in the morphological structure may have affected the contraction of the synthetic dermal substitutes.
-
Electrical injury to the central nervous system may lead to neurologic compromise via pleiotropic mechanisms. It may cause current-related, thermal or nonthermal damage followed by secondary mechanisms. ⋯ The capability of MRI assessing a variety of lesions for diagnostic and potentially prognostic reasons is presented.
-
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a pathogen that can result in substantial morbidity and mortality. Early detection of MRSA colonization by screening nasal swabs may be important in the management of burn-injured patients. However, studies examining its use in this population are limited. The aim of this study was to study the utility of admission MRSA screening nasal swabs and determine if being positive for MRSA on admission impacted outcomes. ⋯ Burn patients who screened positive for MRSA had greater lengths of stay, more surgical procedures, and higher wound complications. Early identification of MRSA colonized patients in this patient population might allow for treatment modifications that improve outcomes. Further study is warranted in a prospective clinical trial.