Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Burn is an overwhelming injury. The De Ritis ratio, defined as aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio, can be used to predict poor outcomes. We evaluated the risk factors, including the De Ritis ratio, associated with 1-year mortality after burn surgery. ⋯ The preoperative De Ritis ratio was a risk factor for 1-year mortality after burn surgery. The De Ritis ratio >1.9 was significantly associated with an increased 1-year mortality after burn surgery. These findings emphasized the importance of identifying burn patients with an increased De Ritis ratio to reduce the mortality after burn surgery.
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Burn injury can dramatically deteriorate health-related quality of life. Effective burn care may minimize the impact of the burn injury and ensure optimal functional outcome. This requires continuous improvement in burn care and assessment of treatment results. The aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt and linguistically validate the CARe Burn Scale-Adult Form, a burn-specific patient-reported outcome measure, into Finnish. ⋯ The Finnish version is the first foreign translation of the CARe Burn Scale. It is equivalent to the original Scale and ready for psychometric validation with burn patients in Finland.
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Laser Doppler imaging is universally considered the most evidence-based method for objective burn depth assessment by accurately predicting burn wound healing potential. This study has analyzed how exactly laser Doppler imaging measurements can be useful in the early therapeutic decision making for patients with clinically indeterminate depth burns. ⋯ Laser Doppler imaging reduces the number of clinical indeterminate depth burns. For these intermediate depth burns on laser Doppler imaging, treatment decisions are based on a combination of interpretation ('man') and laser Doppler imaging measurements ('machine'). Thorough knowledge of confounding factors and validated laser Doppler imaging color code, consideration of surrounding laser Doppler imaging colors, the use of mean flux values, and not directly burn related factors are essential. Burn centers with most laser Doppler imaging experience considered laser Doppler imaging an indispensable diagnostic tool.
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Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is "the subjective experience of positive psychological change reported by an individual as a result of the struggle with trauma" (Zoellner and Maercker, 2006 [1]). PTG after burn is similar to PTG after other types of trauma (Martin et al., 2016 [2]). The aim was to assess the relationship between coping styles, via the BriefCOPE (Carver et al., 1989 [9]), and posttraumatic growth via the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (Cann et al., 2010 [4]), in an adult burn population. ⋯ Behavioural disengagement, venting and self-blame behaviours can be used as 'red flags' to trigger early screening for depression and to enable timely treatment of depression. To maximise posttraumatic growth interventions that promote positive reframing, use of religion, and acceptance are necessary.