BurnCare tablet trainer to enhance burn injury care and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Applied Research Associates (ARA) and the United States Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR) have been developing a tablet-based simulation environment for burn wound assessment and burn shock resuscitation. This application aims to supplement the current gold standard in burn care education, the Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS) curriculum. RESULTS: Subject matter experts validate total body surface area (TBSA) identification and analysis and show that the visual fidelity of the tablet virtual patients is consistent with real life thermal injuries. We show this by noting that the error between their burn mapping and the actual patient burns was sufficiently less than that of a random sample population. Statistical analysis is used to confirm this hypothesis. In addition a full body physiology model developed for this project is detailed. Physiological results, and responses to standard care treatment, are detailed and validated. Future updates will include training modules that leverage this model. CONCLUSION: We have created an accurate, whole-body model of burn TBSA training experience in Unreal 4 on a mobile platform, provided for free to the medical community. We hope to provide learners with more a realistic experience and with rapid feedback as they practice patient assessment, intervention, and reassessment.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Telementoring During Resource-Limited Patient Care Simulation Improves Caregiver Performance and Patient Survival.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of telementoring on caregiver performance during a high-fidelity medical simulation model (HFMSM) of a critically ill patient in a resource-limited setting. DESIGN: A two-center, randomized, controlled study using a HFMSM of a patient with community-acquired pneumonia complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome. SETTING: A notional clinic in a remote location staffed by a single clinician and nonmedical assistant. PARTICIPANTS: Clinicians with limited experience managing critically ill patients. INTERVENTIONS: Telemedicine (TM) support. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was clinical performance as measured by accuracy, reliability, and efficiency of care. Secondary outcomes were patient survival, procedural quality, subjective assessment of the HFMSM, and perceived workload. MAIN RESULTS: TM participants (N = 11) performed better than non-TM (NTM, N = 12) in providing expected care (accuracy), delivering care more consistently (reliability), and without consistent differences in efficiency (timeliness of care). Accuracy: TM completed 91% and NTM 42% of expected tasks and procedures. Efficiency: groups did not differ in the mean (± sd) minutes it took to obtain an advanced airway successfully (TM 15.2 ± 10.5 vs. NTM 22.8 ± 8.4, p = 0.10) or decompress a tension pneumothorax with a needle (TM 0.7 ± 0.5 vs. NTM 0.6 ± 0.9, p = 0.65). TM was slower than NTM in completing thoracostomy (22.3 ± 10.2 vs. 12.3 ± 4.8, p = 0.03). Reliability: TM performed 13 of 17 (76%) tasks with more consistent timing than NTM. TM completed 68% and NTM 29% of procedural quality metrics. Eighty-two percent of the TM participants versus 17% of the NTM participants simulated patients survived (p = 0.003). The groups similarly perceived the HFMSM as realistic, managed their patients with personal ownership, and experienced comparable workload and stress. CONCLUSIONS: Remote expertise provided with TM to caregivers in resource-limited settings improves caregiver performance, quality of care, and potentially real patient survival. HFMSM can be used to study interventions in ways not possible with real patients.

The Battle of the Titans-Comparing Resuscitation Between Five Major Burn Centers Using the Burn Navigator.

The goal of burn resuscitation is to provide the optimal amount of fluid necessary to maintain end-organ perfusion and prevent burn shock. The objective of this analysis was to examine how the Burn Navigator (BN), a clinical decision support tool in burn resuscitation, was utilized across five major burn centers in the United States, using an observational trial of 300 adult patients. Subject demographics, burn characteristics, fluid volumes, urine output, and resuscitation-related complications were examined. Two hundred eighty-five patients were eligible for analysis. There was no difference among the centers on mean age (45.5 ± 16.8 years), body mass index (29.2 ± 6.9), median injury severity score (18 [interquartile range: 9-25]), or total body surface area (TBSA) (34 [25.8-47]). Primary crystalloid infusion volumes at 24 h differed significantly in ml/kg/TBSA (range: 3.1 ± 1.2 to 4.5 ± 1.7). Total fluids, including colloid, drip medications, and enteral fluids, differed among centers in both ml/kg (range: 132.5 ± 61.4 to 201.9 ± 109.9) and ml/kg/TBSA (3.5 ± 1.0 to 5.3 ± 2.0) at 24 h. Post-hoc adjustment using pairwise comparisons resulted in a loss of significance between most of the sites. There was a total of 156 resuscitation-related complications in 92 patients. Experienced burn centers using the BN successfully titrated resuscitation to adhere to 24 h goals. With fluid volumes near the Parkland formula prediction and a low prevalence of complications, the device can be utilized effectively in experienced centers. Further study should examine device utility in other facilities and on the battlefield.

Impact of Alcohol and Methamphetamine Use on Burn Resuscitation.

Mortality associated with burn injuries is declining with improved critical care. However, patients admitted with concurrent substance use have increased risk of complications and poor outcomes. The impact of alcohol and methamphetamine use on acute burn resuscitation has been described in single-center studies; however, has not been studied since implementation of computerized decision support for resuscitation. Patients were evaluated based presence of alcohol, with a minimum blood alcohol level of 0.10, or positive methamphetamines on urine drug screen. Fluid volumes and urine output were examined over 48 hours. A total of 296 patients were analyzed. 37 (12.5%) were positive for methamphetamine use, 50 (16.9%) were positive for alcohol use, and 209 (70.1%) with negative for both. Patients positive for methamphetamine received a mean of 5.30 ± 2.63 cc/kg/TBSA, patients positive for alcohol received a mean of 5.41 ± 2.49 cc/kg/TBSA, and patients with neither received a mean of 4.33 ± 1.79 cc/kg/TBSA. Patients with methamphetamine or alcohol use had significantly higher fluid requirements. In the first 6 hours patients with alcohol use had significantly higher urinary output (UO) in comparison to patients with methamphetamine use which had similar output to patients negative for both substances. This study demonstrated that patients with alcohol and methamphetamine use had statistically significantly greater fluid resuscitation requirements compared to patients without. The effects of alcohol as a diuretic align with previous literature. However, patients with methamphetamine lack the increased UO as a cause for their increased fluid requirements.

Higher Initial Formula for Resuscitation After Severe Burn Injury Means Higher 24-Hour Volumes.

Initial fluid infusion rates for resuscitation of burn injuries typically use formulas based on patient weight and total body surface area (TBSA) burned. However, the impact of this rate on overall resuscitation volumes and outcomes have not been extensively studied. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of initial fluid rates on 24-hour volumes and outcomes using the Burn Navigator (BN). The BN database is composed of 300 patients with ≥20% TBSA, >40 kg that were resuscitated utilizing the BN. Four study arms were analyzed based on the initial formula-2 ml/kg/TBSA, 3 ml/kg/TBSA, 4 ml/kg/TBSA or the Rule of Ten. Total fluids infused at 24 hours after admission were compared as well as resuscitation-related outcomes. A total of 296 patients were eligible for analysis. Higher starting rates (4 ml/kg/TBSA) resulted in significantly higher volumes at 24 hours (5.2 ± 2.2 ml/kg/TBSA) than lower rates (2 ml/kg/TBSA resulted in 3.9 ± 1.4 ml/kg/TBSA). No shock was observed in the high resuscitation cohort, whereas the lowest starting rate exhibited a 12% incidence, lower than both the Rule of Ten and 3 ml/kg/TBSA arms. There was no difference in 7-day mortality across groups. Higher initial fluid rates resulted in higher 24-hour fluid volumes. The choice of 2ml/kg/TBSA as initial rate did not result in increased mortality or more complications. An initial rate of 2ml/kg/TBSA is a safe strategy.

Initial Results of the American Burn Association Observational Multicenter Evaluation on the Effectiveness of the Burn Navigator.

The objective of this multicenter observational study was to evaluate resuscitation volumes and outcomes of patients who underwent fluid resuscitation utilizing the Burn Navigator (BN), a resuscitation clinical decision support tool. Two analyses were performed: examination of the first 24 hours of resuscitation and the first 24 hours postburn regardless of when the resuscitation began, to account for patients who presented in a delayed fashion. Patients were classified as having followed the BN (FBN) if all hourly fluid rates were within ±20 ml of BN recommendations for that hour at least 83% of the time; otherwise, they were classified as not having followed BN (NFBN). Analysis of resuscitation volumes for FBN patients in the first 24 hours resulted in average volumes for primary crystalloid and total fluids administered of 4.07 ± 1.76 ml/kg/TBSA (151.48 ± 77.46 ml/kg) and 4.68 ± 2.06 ml/kg/TBSA (175.01 ± 92.22 ml/kg), respectively. Patients who presented in a delayed fashion revealed average volumes for primary and total fluids of 5.28 ± 2.54 ml/kg/TBSA (201.11 ± 106.53 ml/kg) and 6.35 ± 2.95 ml/kg/TBSA (244.08 ± 133.5 ml/kg), respectively. There was a significant decrease in the incidence of burn shock in the FBN group (P < .05). This study shows that the BN provides comparable resuscitation volumes of primary crystalloid fluid to the Parkland formula, recommends total fluid infusion less than the Ivy index, and was associated with a decreased incidence of burn shock. Early initiation of the BN device resulted in lower overall fluid volumes.

Computerized decision support system improves fluid resuscitation following severe burns: an original study.

OBJECTIVE: Several formulas have been developed to guide resuscitation in severely burned patients during the initial 48 hrs after injury. These approaches require manual titration of fluid that may result in human error during this process and lead to suboptimal outcomes. The goal of this study was to analyze the efficacy of a computerized open-loop decision support system for burn resuscitation compared to historical controls. DESIGN: Fluid infusion rates and urinary output from 39 severely burned patients with >20% total body surface area burns were recorded upon admission (Model group). A fluid-response model based on these data was developed and incorporated into a computerized open-loop algorithm and computer decision support system. The computer decision support system was used to resuscitate 32 subsequent patients with severe burns (computer decision support system group) and compared with the Model group. SETTING: Burn intensive care unit of a metropolitan Level 1 Trauma center. PATIENTS: Acute burn patients with >20% total body surface area requiring active fluid resuscitation during the initial 24 to 48 hours after burn. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We found no significant difference between the Model and computer decision support system groups in age, total body surface area, or injury mechanism. Total crystalloid volume during the first 48 hrs post burn, total crystalloid intensive care unit volume, and initial 24-hr crystalloid intensive care unit volume were all lower in the computer decision support system group. Infused volume per kilogram body weight (mL/kg) and per percentage burn (mL/kg/total body surface area) were also lower for the computer decision support system group. The number of patients who met hourly urinary output goals was higher in the computer decision support system group. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a computer decision support system for burn resuscitation in the intensive care unit resulted in improved fluid management of severely burned patients. All measures of crystalloid fluid volume were reduced while patients were maintained within urinary output targets a higher percentage of the time. The addition of computer decision support system technology improved patient care.

Use of ultra rapid opioid detoxification in the treatment of US military burn casualties.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this case series was to review the management of burn patients who requested ultrarapid opioid detoxification under anesthesia after extended duration of narcotic use for chronic pain related to burn injury. METHODS: The treatment plan of six opioid-dependent burn patients was analyzed to assess the effectiveness of our detoxification practice to date. Demographic and clinical information was used to characterize the patient population served: age, burn size, injury severity, duration of narcotic use before detoxification intervention, and length of hospitalization stay. Daily narcotic consumption, in morphine equivalent units, was noted both before and after detoxification. RESULTS: Six burn patients (average age, 31 years) underwent detoxification at the Burn Center during a hospitalization lasting between 1 day and 2 days. Average burn size was 38% total body surface area (range, 17-65); average Injury Severity Score was 30 (range, 25-38). Mean duration of narcotic use was 672 days (range, 239-1,156 days); average use of narcotics at time of detoxification was >200 units daily. Mean outpatient consumption for opioids after the intervention was minimal (<25 units/d). No complications were noted during any procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The results of ultrarapid opioid detoxification under anesthesia suggests that it is safe and effective for treating opioid addiction in military burn casualties when a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach is used. Safety and effectiveness to date validate current practice and supports incorporation into clinical practice guidelines. Further clinical research is warranted to identify those patients who may benefit most from detoxification and to determine the timing of such treatment.

Prolonged, High-Fidelity Simulation for Study of Patient Care in Resource-Limited Medical Contexts and for Technology Comparative Effectiveness Testing.

Most high-fidelity medical simulation is of limited duration, used for education and training, and rarely intended to study medical technology. U.S. caregivers working in prehospital, resource-limited settings may need to manage patients for extended periods (hours to days). This "prolonged casualty care" occurs during military, wilderness, humanitarian, disaster, and space medicine. We sought to develop a standardized simulation model that accurately reflects prolonged casualty care in order to study caregiver decision-making and performance, training requirements, and technology use in prolonged casualty care. DESIGN: Model development. SETTING: High-fidelity simulation laboratory. SUBJECTS: None. INTERVENTIONS: We interviewed subject matter experts to identify relevant prolonged casualty care medical challenges and selected two casualty types to further develop our model: a large thermal burn model and a severe hypoxia model. We met with a multidisciplinary group of experts in prolonged casualty care, nursing, and critical care to describe how these problems could evolve over time and how to contextualize the problems with a background story and clinical environment with expected resource availability. Following initial scenario drafting, we tested the models with expert clinicians. After multiple tests, we selected the hypoxia model for refinement and testing with inexperienced providers. We tested and refined this model until two research teams could proctor the scenario consistently despite subject performance variability. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We developed a 6-8-hour simulation model that represented a 14-hour scenario. This model of pneumonia evolved from presentation to severe hypoxia necessitating advanced interventions including airway, breathing, and shock management. The model included: context description, caregiver orientation scripts, hourly progressive physiology tracks corresponding to caregiver interventions, intervention/procedure-specific physiology tracks, intervention checklists, equipment lists, prestudy checklists, photographs of setups, procedure, telementor, and role player scripts, business rules, and data collection methods. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first standardized, high-fidelity simulation model of prolonged casualty care described in the literature. It may be used to assess caregiver performance and patient outcomes resulting from that performance during a complex, 14-hour prolonged casualty care scenario. Because it is standardized, the model may be used to compare differences in the impact of new technologies upon caregiver performance and simulated patient outcomes..

Quantifying the effects of wound healing risk and potential on clinical measurements and outcomes of severely burned patients: A data-driven approach.

INTRODUCTION: Given recent advances in computational power, the goal of this study was to quantify the effects of wound healing risk and potential on clinical measurements and outcomes of severely burned patients, with the hope of providing more insight on factors that affect wound healing. METHODS: This retrospective study involved patients who had at least 10% TBSA% "burned" and three burn mappings each. To model risk to wounds, we defined the variable θ, a hypothetical threshold for TBSA% "open wound" used to demarcate "low-risk" from "high-risk" patients. Low-risk patients denoted those patients whose actual TBSA% "open wound" ≤θ, whereas high-risk patients denoted those patients whose actual TBSA% "open wound" >θ. To consider all possibilities of risk, 100 sub analyses were performed by (1) varying θ from 100% to 1% in decrements of 1%, (2) grouping all patients as either "low-risk" or "high-risk" for each θ, and (3) comparing all means and deviations of variables and outcomes between the two groups for each θ. Hence, this study employed a data-driven approach to capture trends in clinical measurements and outcomes. Plots and tables were also obtained. RESULTS: For 303 patients, median age and weight were 43 [29-59] years and 85 [72-99]kg, respectively. Mean TBSA% "burned" was 25 [17-39] %, with a full-thickness burn of 4 [0-15] %. Average crystalloid volumes were 4.25±2.27mL/kg/TBSA% "burned" in the first 24h. Importantly, for high-risk patients, decreasing θ was matched by significant increases in PaO2-FiO2 ratio, platelet count, Glasgow coma score (GCS), and MAP. On the other hand, increasing their risk θ was also matched by significant increases in creatinine, bilirubin, lactate, blood, estimated blood loss, and 24-h and total fluid volumes. As expected, for low-risk patients, clinical measurements were more stable, despite decreasing or increasing θ. At a θ of 80%, statistical tests indicated much disparity between high-risk and low-risk patients for TBSA% "burned", full thickness burn, bilirubin (1.66±1.16mg/dL versus 0.83±0.65mg/dL, p=0.005), GCS (7±2 versus 12±3, p<0.001), MAP (42±22mm Hg versus 59±22mm Hg, p=0.004), 24-h blood, estimated blood loss, 24-h fluid, total fluid, and ICU length of stay (81±113 days versus 24±27 days, p=0.002). These differences were all statistically significant and remained significant down to θ=10%. CONCLUSION: Wound healing risk and potential may be forecasted by many different clinical measurements and outcomes and has many implications on multi-organ function. Future work will be needed to further explain and understand these effects, in order to facilitate development of new predictive models for wound healing.

Improving Clinician Decisions and Communication in Critical Care Using Novel Information Technology.

INTRODUCTION: The electronic medical record (EMR) is presumed to support clinician decisions by documenting and retrieving patient information. Research shows that the EMR variably affects patient care and clinical decision making. The way information is presented likely has a significant impact on this variability. Well-designed representations of salient information can make a task easier by integrating information in useful patterns that clinicians use to make improved clinical judgments and decisions. Using Cognitive Systems Engineering methods, our research team developed a novel health information technology (NHIT) that interfaces with the EMR to display salient clinical information and enabled communication with a dedicated text-messaging feature. The software allows clinicians to customize displays according to their role and information needs. Here we present results of usability and validation assessments of the NHIT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our subjects were physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and physician trainees. Two arms of this study were conducted, a usability assessment and then a validation assessment. The usability assessment was a computer-based simulation using deceased patient data. After a brief five-minute orientation, the usability assessment measured individual clinician performance of typical tasks in two clinical scenarios using the NHIT. The clinical scenarios included patient admission to the unit and patient readiness for surgery. We evaluated clinician perspective about the NHIT after completing tasks using 7-point Likert scale surveys. In the usability assessment, the primary outcome was participant perceptions about the system's ease of use compared to the legacy system.A subsequent cross-over, validation assessment compared performance of two clinical teams during simulated care scenarios: one using only the legacy IT system and one using the NHIT in addition to the legacy IT system. We oriented both teams to the NHIT during a 1-hour session on the night before the first scenario. Scenarios were conducted using high-fidelity simulation in a real burn intensive care unit room. We used observations, task completion times, semi-structured interviews, and surveys to compare user decisions and perceptions about their performance. The primary outcome for the validation assessment was time to reach accurate (correct) decision points. RESULTS: During the usability assessment, clinicians were able to complete all tasks requested. Clinicians reported the NHIT was easier to use and the novel information display allowed for easier data interpretation compared to subject recollection of the legacy EMR.In the validation assessment, a more junior team of clinicians using the NHIT arrived at accurate diagnoses and decision points at similar times as a more experienced team. Both teams noted improved communication between team members when using the NHIT and overall rated the NHIT as easier to use than the legacy EMR, especially with respect to finding information. CONCLUSIONS: The primary findings of these assessments are that clinicians found the NHIT easy to use despite minimal training and experience and that it did not degrade clinician efficiency or decision-making accuracy. These findings are in contrast to common user experiences when introduced to new EMRs in clinical practice.

Relationship Between Burn Wound Location and Outcomes in Severely Burned Patients: More Than Meets the Size.

We hypothesized that burn location plays an important role in wound healing, mortality, and other outcomes and conducted the following study to test this multifold hypothesis. We conducted a study to retrospectively look at patients with burns ≥10% TBSA. Demographics, TBSA, partial/full thickness burns (PT/FT) in various wound locations, fluids, inhalation injury, mortality, ICU duration, and hospital duration were considered. Initial wound healing rates (%/d) were also calculated as a slope from the time of the first mapping of open wound size to the time of the third mapping of open wound size. Multivariate logistic regression and operating curves were used to measure mortality prediction performance. All values were expressed as median [interquartile range]. The mortality rate for 318 patients was 17% (54/318). In general, patients were 43 years [29, 58 years] old and had a TBSA of 25% [17, 39%], PT of 16% [10, 25%], and FT of 4% [0, 15%]. Between patients who lived and did not, age, TBSA, FT, 24-hour fluid, and ICU duration were statistically different (P < .001). Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences in FT head (0% [0, 0%] vs 0% [0, 1%], P = .048); FT anterior torso (0% [0, 1%] vs 1% [0, 4%], P < .001); FT posterior torso (0% [0, 0%] vs 0% [0, 4%], P < 0.001); FT upper extremities (0% [0, 3%] vs 2% [0, 11%], P < .001); FT lower extremities (0% [0, 2%] vs 6% [0, 17%], P < .001); and FT genitalia (0% [0, 0%] vs 0% [0, 2%], P < .001). Age, presence of inhalation injury, PT/FT upper extremities, and FT lower extremities were independent mortality predictors and per unit increases of these variables were associated with an increased risk for mortality (P < .05): odds ratio of 1.09 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.61-1.13; P < .001) for mean age; 2.69 (95% CI = 1.04-6.93; P = .041) for inhalation injury; 1.14 (95% CI = 1.01-1.27; P = .031) for mean PT upper extremities; 1.26 (95% CI = 1.11-1.42; P < .001) for mean FT upper extremities; and 1.07 (95% CI = 1.01-1.12; P = .012) for mean FT lower extremities. Prediction of mortality was better using specific wound locations (area under the curve [AUC], AUC of 0.896) rather than using TBSA and FT (AUC of 0.873). Graphs revealed that initial healing rates were statistically lower and 24-hour fluids and ICU length of stay were statistically higher in patients with FT upper extremities than in patients without FT extremities (P < .001). Burn wound location affects wound healing and helps predict mortality and ICU length of stay and should be incorporated into burn triage strategies to enhance resource allocation or stratify wound care.

Predicting wound healing rates and survival with the use of automated serial evaluations of burn wounds.

Healing of burn wounds is necessary for survival; however tracking progression or healing of burns is an inexact science. Recently, the relationship of mortality and wound healing has been documented with a software termed WoundFlow. The objective of the current study was to confirm various factors that impact burn wound healing, as well as to establish a timeline and rate of successful healing. A retrospective analysis was performed on adults (n=115) with at least 20% TBSA burn that had at least two computer-based wound mappings. The % open wound (%OW) was calculated over time to document healing trajectory until successful healing or death. Only 2% of patients in the group with successful wound healing died. A decrease in the %OW of 0.8 (IQR: 0.7-1.1) was associated with survival. Disparities in wound healing trajectories between survivors and non-survivors were distinguishable by 2weeks post-injury (P<0.05). When %TBSA was stratified by decile, the 40-49% TBSA group had the highest healing rate. Taken together, the data indicate that wound healing trajectory (%OW) varies with injury severity and survival. As such, automated mapping of wound healing trajectory may provide valuable information concerning patient/prognosis, and may recommend early interventions to optimize wound healing.

Trend Analysis of Current Modalities for Monitoring Fluid Therapy in Patients With Large Burns: Echoing the Call for Better Resuscitation Indices.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether current standards at our institution have effectively monitored resuscitations of severely burned patients during the first 48 hours postburn. Demographics, injuries assessed by TBSA and full thickness (FT), and resuscitation volumes (lactated Ringer's [LR]) were compared for all patients and those who died or survived. Means and standard deviations of hourly indices (urinary output [UOP], lactate [LAC], base excess [BE]) vs LR were analyzed. Waveforms, four-quadrant concordance, and correlation were also employed to compare the trending abilities (hourly changes [∆]) of aforementioned variables vs LR. A total of 203 patients were included in the analysis. Of these patients, 71 (35%) died, and 50 (25%) had inhalation injuries. Mean age and weight were 47 ± 19 years and 87 ± 18 kg, respectively. Mean TBSA burned was 41 ± 20%, with a mean FT of 18 ± 24%. Importantly, normalized waveform plots demonstrated the inability of UO, LAC, and BE to follow hourly changes in LR. Correlation of these variables was weak (r>>-1). This was confirmed by concordance plots. Slopes in all groups demonstrated that UOP was a better resuscitative monitor than LAC or BE. ∆UOP responded to ∆LR better in patients who survived than died. Reliance on hourly UOP as the sole index of optimal resuscitation is not supported. This study echoed the call for better resuscitation indices.

Predicting the Ability of Wounds to Heal Given Any Burn Size and Fluid Volume: An Analytical Approach.

The intrinsic relationship between fluid volume and open wound size (%) has not been previously examined. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate whether open wound size can be predicted from fluid volume plus other significant factors over time and to evaluate how machine learning may perform in predicting open wound size. This retrospective study involved patients with at least 20% TBSA burned. Various predictive models were developed and compared using goodness-of-fit statistics (R2, error [mean absolute error (MAE), root mean squared error (RMSE)]). Bland-Altman analysis was also performed to determine bias. A total of 121 patients were included in the analysis. Median TBSA burned was 31% (interquartile range: 26-46%). Average crystalloid volumes were 4.0 ± 2.7 ml/kg/TBSA in the first 24 hours. There were 24 (20%) patients who died. Importantly, multivariate analysis identified seven independent predictors of open wound size. Also, machine learning analysis was able to stratify patients based on the 20th day after admission, ~40% TBSA burned, and fluid volumes. Models for predicting open wound size varied in performance (R2 = .79-.90, MAE = 3.97-7.52, RMSE = 7.11-10.69). Notably, a combined machine learning model using only four features (fluid volume, days since admission, TBSA burned, age) performed the best and was sufficient to predict open wound size, with >90% goodness of fit and <4% absolute error. Bland-Altman analysis showed that there were no biases in the models. Open wound size can be predicted reliably using machine learning and fluid volume, days since admission, TBSA burned, and age. Future work will be needed to validate the utility of this study's models in a clinical environment.

Bridging burn care education with modern technology, an integration with high fidelity human patient simulation.

OBJECTIVE: The Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS) program is a burn-education curriculum nearly 30 years in the making, focusing on the unique challenges of the first 24h of care after burn injury. Our team applied high fidelity human patient simulation (HFHPS) to the established ABLS curriculum. Our hypothesis was that HFHPS would be a feasible, easily replicable, and valuable adjunct to the current curriculum that would enhance learner experience. METHODS: This prospective, evidenced-based practice project was conducted in a single simulation center employing the American Burn Association's ABLS curriculum using HFHPS. Participants managed 7 separate simulated polytrauma and burn scenarios with resultant clinical complications. After training, participants completed written and practical examinations as well as satisfaction surveys. RESULTS: From 2012 to 2013, 71 students participated in this training. Simulation (ABLS-Sim) participants demonstrated a 2.5% increase in written post-test scores compared to traditional ABLS Provider Course (ABLS Live) (p=0.0016). There was no difference in the practical examination when comparing ABLS-Sim versus ABLS Live. Subjectively, 60 (85%) participants completed surveys. The Educational Practice Questionnaire showed best practices rating of 4.5±0.7; with importance of learning rated at 4.4±0.8. The Simulation Design Scale rating for design was 4.6±0.6 with an importance rating of 4.4±0.8. Overall Satisfaction and Self-Confidence with Learning were 4.4±0.7 and 4.5±0.7, respectfully. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating HFHPS with the current ABLS curriculum led to higher written exam scores, high levels of confidence, satisfaction, and active learning, and presented an evidenced-based model for education that is easily employable for other facilities nationwide.

Burn Casualty Care in the Deployed Setting.

Management of wartime burn casualties can be very challenging. Burns frequently occur in the setting of other blunt and penetrating injuries. This clinical practice guideline provides a manual for burn injury assessment, resuscitation, wound care, and specific scenarios including chemical and electrical injuries in the deployed or austere setting. The clinical practice guideline also reviews considerations for the definitive care of local national patients, including pediatric patients, who are unable to be evacuated from theater. Medical providers are encouraged to contact the US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR) Burn Center when caring for a burn casualty in the deployed setting.

The impact of patient weight on burn resuscitation.

BACKGROUND: Optimal fluid resuscitation of burn patients with burns greater than 20% total body surface area is critical to prevent burn shock during the initial 24 hours to 48 hours postburn. Currently, most resuscitation formulas incorporate the patient's weight when estimating 24-hour fluid requirements. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of weight on fluid resuscitation requirements and outcomes during the initial 24 hours after admission. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients admitted to our burn intensive care unit from December 2007 to April 2013, resuscitated with a computerized decision support system. We classified patients into body mass index (BMI) categories of underweight (BMI: <18.5), normal (BMI: 18.5-24.9), overweight (BMI: 25.0-29.9), or obese (BMI: >30.0). We also calculated the percent difference from ideal body weight (IBW) and compared 24-hour fluid volumes received. RESULTS: Patients with missing weight and/or height values were excluded from the study, resulting in a final cohort of 161 patients for analysis. Mean total body surface area was 42 ± 20% with a full thickness burn of 18 ± 23%. Mean age, weight, and height were 47 ± 19 years, 83 ± 19 kg, and 68 ± 4 inches, respectively. IBW for this cohort was 68 ± 11 kg with a BMI of 28 ± 6. Univariate analysis showed significant differences in 24-hour resuscitation volumes (mL/kg) between normal and obese patients (p < 0.05). Further analysis revealed that increasing percent difference from IBW was associated with lower fluid volumes. Although obesity was not associated with inhalation injury or renal replacement therapy, it was correlated to an increased risk for mortality (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This analysis showed that increasing weight was associated with lower fluid resuscitation volume requirements and a higher mortality rate, despite the low incidence of inhalation injury and renal replacement therapy in our obese patients. The use of actual body weight to drive resuscitation volumes may result in overresuscitation of obese patients, depending on the resuscitation formula. Further studies are needed to better explain the relationship between mortality and obesity in burn patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/care management, level IV.

Follow-Up Evaluation of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Flow Sheet for En Route Care Documentation of Burned Combat Casualties.

INTRODUCTION: In 2006, burn clinical practice guidelines were developed to provide recommendations for optimal care of U.S. military and local national burn casualties. As part of that effort, a paper-based Burn Flow Sheet (BFS) was included to document the burn resuscitation of combat casualties with ≥20% total body surface area burns. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the BFS in terms of ongoing utilization, resuscitation management, and outcomes of patients transported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of hard-copy BFSs received from January 2007 to December 2013. En route injury and treatment data from these flowsheets were manually transcribed into the research database. Outcomes and complications of BFS subjects were extracted from the Burn Center Registry and added to the research database. RESULTS: A total of 73 BFSs were collected from the study period. On average, BFSs were 61 ± 30% complete with a total of 14.7 ± 7 hours documented per patient in the first 24-hours postburn. Patients received nearly 7 L more fluid than estimated by traditional formulas. Sixteen patients (26%) received greater than 250 mL/kg of fluid, half of whom had concomitant traumatic injuries. Fifteen patients received a fasciotomy (21%), 4 received a laparotomy (5%), and 8 (11%) received both. No patients developed abdominal compartment syndrome associated with fluid resuscitation. Overall mortality was 21%. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of providers did initiate a BFS, it was not always used as intended; problems included missing data and miscalculations. Although there was a clear improvement with decline in the incidence of abdominal compartment syndrome, mortality did not change for severely burned patients. Simplification of the recommendations, additional built-in prompts, and automated tools such as computerized decision support software may help standardize practice and improve outcomes.