Management of Head and Neck Burns-A 15-Year Review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to characterize patients with isolated head and neck burns admitted to the Grady Memorial Hospital (GMH) Burn Center (Atlanta, GA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective case series of patients admitted to the GMH Burn Center with the primary diagnosis of head and neck burns from 2000 through 2015. Demographic data (gender and age) were recorded. Burn details (etiology, mechanism, percentage of burned total body surface area, depth, and associated injuries) were summarized. Patient management and hospital course were documented. Data were collected using a standardized collection form. Descriptive statistics were computed. RESULTS: There were 5,938 patients admitted to the burn unit at the GMH Burn Center during the study period. Of these, 2,547 patients had head and neck burns and 205 patients met the inclusion criteria. Most (n = 136; 66%) were male, with a mean age of 40 years. The most common burn depth was superficial partial thickness. Flame burns were the most likely mechanism related to full-thickness injury. Approximately one fourth of patients had an associated injury, such as inhalation or ocular injury. Surgical interventions consisted of tangential excision and split-thickness skin grafting, contracture release, excision of hypertrophic scars, and rotational flaps. Mean length of hospital stay for isolated head and neck burns was 4.4 days. Overall mortality was 2%. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that superficial partial-thickness head and neck burns are more likely to occur from accidental exposure to flames in men older than 55 years. Owing to an increase in risk and mortality of inhalation injury associated with head and neck burns, airway protection and respiratory management are critical considerations of head and neck burn management.

Cost-benefit analysis of outcomes from the use of fibrin sealant for fixation of skin grafts in small-size burns compared to staples as historical controls: a retrospective review.

INTRODUCTION: Historically, split-thickness skin grafts have been fixed onto the recipient site by suture and/or staples. Fibrin sealants have become available for the fixation in the past 10 years. Fibrin sealants have been shown to be at least as effective as staples, and recent reports show them to cause less pain. However, the product is much more expensive than traditional suture and/or staple fixation. The cost-benefit ratio of sealant has not yet been proven. METHODS: A review of charts for 202 consecutive patients was undertaken for patients with burns that were less than 10% total body surface area (TBSA) that underwent excision and grafting using fibrin sealant at the regional burn center. A historical control comprising 48 consecutive patients with burns that were less than 10% TBSA that underwent excision and grafting using staples as the only means of fixation was used for comparison. Demographics (such as age, weight, and sex), personal history of tobacco use, previous diagnosis of diabetes, type and depth of burn, TBSA, area of grafting, graft and donor locations, mesh type, rate of hematomas, rate of graft loss, rate of complete closure at 1 month, and time to discharge after surgery were recorded for each patient in both cohorts. The data were compared and statistical analysis performed for graft loss complications and number of days until the patient could be discharged home with outpatient wound care. RESULTS: Use of fibrin sealants has resulted in statistically significant lower rates of loss of graft at our institution. Additionally, a decrease in the number of days until discharge to outpatient wound care of nearly 2 days produced a lower cost of care in patients with less than 10% TBSA undergoing excision and grafting. CONCLUSIONS: The use of fibrin sealants allows for fewer graft loss complications and earlier discharge in patients who have burns that are less than 10% TBSA. This decrease in hospital days results in savings, although this difference is not statistically significant.

Development of the Burn Frailty Index: A prognostication index for elderly patients sustaining burn injuries.

BACKGROUND: Frailty has demonstrated enhanced prognostic ability for elderly patient morbidity. The aim was to create a burn-specific frailty index for elderly patients and compare it to commonly used scoring systems in burn management. METHODS: From 2013 to 2017, we prospectively surveyed a randomized cohort of patients ≥65-years-old previously admitted to our burn unit. Prognostic comparisons with 6 commonly used indices and multivariate risk analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of 100 included patients, n = 32 were classified as frail. The mean patient age was 73.0 ±â€¯6.8-years with a median follow up of 20.9 months. There were 13 moralities in total, 12 occurred in the frail group including 5 in-house mortalities. Patients classified as frail had significantly more complications (p < 0.001), non-home discharges (p < 0.001), ICU admissions, and longer hospital and ICU lengths of stay (p < 0.001), decreased 1 and 3-year survival (p = 0.001). The BFI was identified as an independent predictor of mortality (p = 0.001) and course-altering diagnoses including sepsis/septic shock, ARDS/ALI, and AKI. CONCLUSIONS: The Burn Frailty Index accurately predicts morbidity and mortality in elderly frail patients suffering burn injuries.

Severe Coagulopathy Secondary to Fulminant Herpes Simplex Virus Hepatitis in a Severely Burned Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Fulminant hepatic failure secondary to herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a rare complication that is associated with high mortality. Here, we describe the case of a critically ill patient with severe burns and inhalation injury who developed severe coagulopathy during her hospital stay, which was later found to be caused by HSV hepatitis. In addition, we review the current literature on HSV hepatitis. Only three prior reports document liver involvement of HSV in patients with burn. Clinical symptoms, diagnostic factors, and management of HSV hepatitis in patients with burn are presented. Because of severe immunosuppression and potentially fatal nature of this infection, clinicians should have a heightened suspicion for HSV hepatitis in burn patients with HSV mucocutaneous involvement, unexplained liver dysfunction, and severe coagulopathy, and it should prompt immediate initiation of intravenous acyclovir.

Controlling intraoperative hemorrhage during burn surgery: A prospective, randomized trial comparing NuStat® hemostatic dressing to the historic standard of care.

INTRODUCTION: One of the primary intraoperative challenges during burn surgery is to adequately excise the burn while avoiding massive hemorrhage. This has become increasingly important, as we see more burn patients that are older and with more medical comorbidities. While adequate excision down to healthy tissues for deep burns is essential for skin graft to take, it also leads to active bleeding that can be a challenge to control. Good hemostasis is imperative as a hematoma is the most common cause of graft loss. Several new products have become available to help control intraoperative hemorrhage. A new hemostatic dressing, NuStat®, is available and approved by FDA in United States. METHODS: A single institution prospective randomized control trial was completed at Regional Burn Center of the University of South Alabama comparing NuStat® with the institutional historic standard of care. Twenty such patients were included in our study. A cost analysis was also completed as part of the study retrospectively. RESULTS: For dressings used to treat the burn site, blood loss on the side treated with NuStat® was on average less (27g/100cm2) than the side treated with our historic standard of care (31g/100cm2), though it was not statistically significant (p=0.81). Similarly, on the donor site, blood loss on the side treated with NuStat® was on average less (14g/100cm2) than the side treated with our historic standard of care (15g/100cm2), but it was also not statistically significant (p=0.92). Average total blood loss from both excision and donor sites was also less with NuStat® (10g/100cm2) compared to the historic standard of care (12g/100cm2), but it was also not significant (p=0.77). There was no difference in the number of cycles required to achieve hemostasis for either the burn (1.15 NuStat® vs. 1.1 for historic standard of care, p=0.70) or the donor site (1 vs. 1, p=1.0). When comparing the cost of NuStat® versus the historic standard of care, the actual costs incurred for the wounds was less for the portion treated with NuStat® ($148.43) when compared to the historic standard of care ($186.45) (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Based on these findings, NuStat® hemostatic action should be comparable to the historic standard of care, and these newer hemostatic agents evaluated further in burn surgery and bleeding during other procedures such as trauma surgery.

Indications for intubation and early tracheostomy in patients with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

BACKGROUND: Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) result in epidermal sloughing and mucositis. There are no published guidelines for intubation and early tracheostomy in this patient population. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 40 patients admitted from 2010 to 2015 with SJS and TEN was conducted. Descriptive statistics and significance were calculated. RESULTS: Of the 43% of patients who underwent early tracheostomy, 100% had oral involvement while the initial total body surface area (TBSA) was 70% or more in 41% of patients (P < .05). TBSA progressed 15% or more in 53% of patients with 6% having airway involvement and a neurologic diagnosis mandating intubation. Mortality was 17%. CONCLUSIONS: Indications for intubation and early tracheostomy for SJS and TEN are documented oral involvement plus one of the following: initial TBSA 70% or more; progression of TBSA involved from hospital day 1 to hospital day 3, 15% TBSA or more; underlying neurologic diagnosis preventing airway protection; and documented airway involvement on direct laryngoscopy.