Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Patients with major burns can undergo temporary coverage while skin graft donor sites heal, where dermal templates have an emerging role. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and resource utilisation in patients with major burns treated with a bilayer biodegradable synthetic matrix (NovoSorb BTM). ⋯ Resource utilisation and clinical outcomes were similar in patients with at least 40 % TBSA treated with BTM and those who were treated with allograft before the introduction of BTM. Patients treated with BTM had significantly less total operative time and no difference in number of operations, allograft use and ICU LOS.
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Severely burned patients suffer from both coagulopathy and hypothermia, with a lack of international consensus and appropriate treatment guidelines. This study examines recent developments and trends in coagulation and temperature management in European burn centers. ⋯ A point-of-care guided, factor-based coagulation management and the maintenance of normothermia have gained importance in the care of burn patients in recent years.
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Within Finish culture is a strong tradition of sauna bathing. This special environment predisposes the persons refreshing in the sauna to different kind of burns with varying etiologies. Despite the high prevalence of sauna related burns in Finland, there is paucity on the sauna related burns literature. ⋯ Sauna contact burns are common, and despite their small size, they frequently cause deep injuries indicating operative treatment. There is a clear male predominance in the patient population. Most probably the cultural aspects of sauna bathing at summer cottages explain the strong seasonal variation in the incidence of these burns. The long latency between initial injury and presentation at the Helsinki Burn Centre should be highlighted to health care centres and central hospitals.
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Observational Study
A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of delirium in burn injury compared to other surgical specialities.
Delirium is an acute cerebral disorder characterised by a disturbance in cognition, attention, and awareness. Often, it's undiagnosed and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. For burn patients, the reported prevalence ranges from 16% to 39%, with a multifactorial aetiology, increasing when intensive care is required. A direct comparison of delirium between surgical specialities has not been made. ⋯ Further analysis to identify and diagnose across the specialties is required. From a patient viewpoint, their LOS, ICU hours, and operations are increased for patients coded as delirious compared to non-delirious across the specialities. On a hospital level, the mean difference in cost for a delirious compared to a non-delirious patient is AU$9317. Despite the low incidence of delirium amongst the observed specialities, burns patients were most likely to develop delirium when demographic and clinical profiles were the same, and were more likely to develop delirium at a younger age and if in ICU.