Pediatric emergency medicine practice
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Pediatr Emerg Med Pract · May 2015
Review Case ReportsOptimizing emergency management to reduce morbidity and mortality in pediatric burn patients.
Burns in patients aged < 14 years are consistently among the top causes of injury-induced mortality in pediatric patients. Pediatric burn victims with large body surface area involvement have a multisystem physiologic response that differs from that of adult patients. The spectrum of management is vast and relies heavily on both the classification of the burn and the anatomy involved. ⋯ Additional goals include decreasing the risk of infection along with improving healing and cosmetic outcomes. Discharge care and appropriate follow-up instructions need to be carefully constructed in order to avoid long-standing complications. This article reviews methods for accurate classification and management of the full range of burns seen in pediatric patients.