Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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According to the International Diabetes Federation, approximately 425 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes mellitus, a figure that will double in the next 20 years. Data on the ratio of treated diabetics in burn intensive care units remain scarce and the effects on the mortality rate are poorly defined. ⋯ Our data indicate higher mortality rates (50-100%) of diabetic patients with TBSA greater than 40% in severely burned patients compared to non-diabetic patients without a significant outcome due to the low number of cases in the subgroup analyses.
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Burns are common worldwide, and the vast majority are non-severe burns of less than 20% of the total body surface area (TBSA). In Australia, paediatric burns account for a third of all burn admissions, thus understanding the quality-of-life outcomes after a non-severe burn in children is important. ⋯ Parent-reported and child-reported psychosocial function was significantly poorer in higher socioeconomic groups, for older children and for those with flame burns. About 16% of patients had scores below the critical cut off. These data provide insight into the quality-of-life outcomes of paediatric patients with non-severe burns, allowing future studies to investigate burn prevention strategies and services to help paediatric burn patients in their recovery.
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Multiple organ failure (MOF) is the leading cause of death in patients with burns requiring ICU admission. Quantifying the evolution of MOF, with the SOFA score, over the first few days after a severe burn may provide useful prognostic information. This retrospective cohort study aimed at evaluating the association between the evolution of the SOFA score between day 0 and day 3 and in-hospital mortality. ⋯ In addition, SOFA variations allowed the identification of subgroups of patients with either very low or very high mortality. In patients with severe burns, SOFA score evolution between day 0 and day 3 may be useful for individualized medical and ethical decisions. Further multicenter studies are required to corroborate the present results.
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Treatment for pediatric burns includes fluid resuscitation with formulas estimating fluid requirements based on weight and/or body surface area (BSA) with percent total body surface area burn (%TBSA burn). This study evaluates the risk of complications using weight-based resuscitation in children following burn injuries and compares fluid estimates with those that incorporate BSA. A retrospective review was conducted on 110 children admitted to an ABA-verified urban pediatric burn center over 12 years. ⋯ Total fluid administered was higher as percentile increased; however, overweight children received more fluid than the obese (p = 0.023). The Galveston formula underpredicted fluid given over the first 24 h post-injury (p = 0.042); the Parkland and Cincinnati formula predictions did not significantly differ from fluids given. Further research is needed to determine the value of weight-based vs BSA-based or incorporated formulas in reducing risk of complications.
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Non-pharmacologic adjuncts to opioid analgesics for burn wound debridement enhance safety and cost effectiveness in care. The current study explored the feasibility of using a custom portable water-friendly immersive VR hardware during burn debridement in adults, and tested whether interactive VR would reduce pain more effectively than nature stimuli viewed in the same VR goggles. ⋯ The current study is innovative in that it is the first to show the feasibility of using a custom portable water-friendly immersive VR hardware during burn debridement in adults. However, contrary to predictions, interactive VR did not reduce pain more effectively than nature stimuli viewed in the same VR goggles.