Plasmin drives burn-induced systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

Severe injuries, such as burns, provoke a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) that imposes pathology on all organs. Simultaneously, severe injury also elicits activation of the fibrinolytic protease plasmin. While the principal adverse outcome of plasmin activation in severe injury is compromised hemostasis, plasmin also possesses proinflammatory properties. We hypothesized that, following a severe injury, early activation of plasmin drives SIRS. Plasmin activation was measured and related to injury severity, SIRS, coagulopathy, and outcomes prospectively in burn patients who are not at risk of hemorrhage. Patients exhibited early, significant activation of plasmin that correlated with burn severity, cytokines, coagulopathy, and death. Burn with a concomitant, remote muscle injury was employed in mice to determine the role of plasmin in the cytokine storm and inflammatory cascades in injured tissue distant from the burn injury. Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of plasmin reduced the burn-induced cytokine storm and inflammatory signaling in injured tissue. These findings demonstrate (a) that severe injury-induced plasmin activation is a key pathologic component of the SIRS-driven cytokine storm and SIRS-activated inflammatory cascades in tissues distant from the inciting injury and (b) that targeted inhibition of plasmin activation may be effective for limiting both hemorrhage and tissue-damaging inflammation following injury.

Early Surgical Management of Thermal Airway Injury: A Case Series.

Inhalation injury is an independent risk factor in burn mortality, imparting a 20% increased risk of death. Yet there is little information on the natural history, functional outcome, or pathophysiology of thermal injury to the laryngotracheal complex, limiting treatment progress. This paper demonstrates a case series (n = 3) of significant thermal airway injuries. In all cases, the initial injury was far exceeded by the subsequent immune response and aggressive fibroinflammatory healing. Serial examination demonstrated progressive epithelial injury, mucosal inflammation, airway remodeling, and luminal compromise. Histologic findings in the first case demonstrate an early IL-17A response in the human airway following thermal injury. This is the first report implicating IL-17A in the airway mucosal immune response to thermal injury. Their second and third patients received Azithromycin targeting IL-17A and showed clinical responses. The third patient also presented with exposed tracheal cartilage and underwent mucosal reconstitution via split-thickness skin graft over an endoluminal stent in conjunction with tracheostomy. This was associated with rapid abatement of mucosal inflammation, resolution of granulation tissue, and return of laryngeal function. Patients who present with thermal inhalation injury should receive a thorough multidisciplinary airway evaluation, including early otolaryngologic evaluation. New early endoscopic approaches (scar lysis and mucosal reconstitution with autologous grafting over an endoluminal stent), when combined with targeted medical therapy aimed at components of mucosal airway inflammation (local corticosteroids and systemic Azithromycin targeting IL-17A), may have potential to limit chronic cicatricial complications.

The use of porcine xenografts in patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis.

INTRODUCTION: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) can be challenging to treat due to pain with wound care and ongoing fluid loss. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of porcine xenograft as a modality for wound coverage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review from 2006 to 2014 was performed at a regional burn center on all patients admitted with the diagnosis of SJS (<10% TBSA involvement), SJS/TEN overlap (10-30% TBSA involvement), and TEN (>30% TBSA involvement). Patients who received porcine xenograft had physiologic and biochemical parameters compared in the 24h before and after graft placement. In addition, xenograft patients were compared to historical controls that received traditional wound care which included silver impregnated dressings. Outcomes and variables collected included intravenous fluid given, urine output, pain scores (1-10), pain medication for wound care, biochemical markers, skin infections, hospital length of stay, and mortality. RESULTS: Eight patients had placement of a porcine xenograft. Median age was 50 years (IQR 41, 66) and 2 were male. Median % TBSA affected was 76 (IQR 64, 80). The median amount of fluid (ml/kg/day/%TBSA) administered decreased from 1.45 (IQR 1.03, 1.78) to 0.9 (IQR 0.65, 1.08) after xenograft placement (p=0.02). The median amount of intravenous fluid (ml/kg/day/%TBSA) administered in the treatment group and historical control group was 0.9 (IQR 0.65, 1.08) and 0.8 (IQR 0.7, 1.47) respectively (p=0.72). The median amount of urine output (ml/kg/day) in the treatment group and historical control group was 34.2 (IQR 22, 44.38) and 22 (IQR 11.25, 38.13) respectively (p=0.17). Pain scores significantly decreased from 5.5 (IQR 2.5, 8.25) pre-xenograft to 2.8 (IQR 0.75, 4) post-xenograft placement (p=0.03). There was a significant difference in pain scores between the treatment group and historical control group, 2.8 (IQR 0.75, 4) and 6 (IQR 5, 8) respectively (p=0.02). Each study patient underwent moderate sedation for wound care prior to xenograft placement and one study patient required one moderate sedation for wound care after xenograft placement. One patient in the xenograft placement group was diagnosed with a cutaneous infection compared to 4 patients in the historical control group (p=0.63). The mortality was 12.5% in each group. CONCLUSIONS: Placement of a porcine xenograft in patients with SJS, SJS/TEN overlap, or TEN is associated with a significant reduction in intravenous fluid use, pain scores, and pain medication. Further study with larger sample sizes is warranted to evaluate for statistically significant differences in outcomes after porcine xenograft placement for SJS, SJS/TEN overlap or TEN.

The Fire Challenge: A Case Report and Analysis of Self-Inflicted Flame Injury Posted on Social Media.

With the advent of social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube, online dissemination of exhibitionist videos has gained popularity. One recent disturbing trend is the "fire challenge" wherein a participant douses his or herself in a household accelerant such as isopropyl alcohol or acetone, sets him or herself ablaze, and attempts to extinguish the flames before serious burns are incurred. As expected, participants in the "fire challenge" often accidentally suffer serious burns. A 17-year-old white male was recently treated at our burn center after participating in the "fire challenge." He suffered 15% TBSA full and partial thickness burns requiring split thickness skin grafting to his abdomen. He reported lighting himself on fire because he had seen this stunt performed on the internet. A search for "fire challenge" and similar terms was conducted on YouTube (www.youtube.com). Gender and ethnicity of each participant were documented. Burn size, burn depth, and age of video participant were estimated by two attending burn surgeons evaluating YouTube videos. Results were reported with descriptive statistics. The search yielded thousands of hits, mostly home videos, compilations of stunts, and commentaries. After omitting duplicate and irrelevant videos, 50 videos were selected for the study. Of these, 13 videos included postburn footage demonstrating burn wounds of various location, size, and severity. Of these burns, the median TBSA burned was 4 ± 2.7% with a maximum size of 10%. Superficial and partial thickness burns were sustained on the torso (10/13, 77%), face (4/13, 31%), and extremities (2/13, 15%). Full thickness burns were seen in 2/13 videos. Some burn wounds were obscured by dressings. Of the 50 videos reviewed, 45/50 participants (90%) were male and 32/50 (64%) were African American with 29/50 participants (58%) estimated to be under age 20. The "fire challenge" is a popular social media phenomenon, but it can result in severe injury as seen with the patient at our institution. The lure of a challenge and potential for a shocking video to "go viral" might entice people to mimic this risky behavior. This study shows a disturbing trend, but undoubtedly only reflects a small portion of actual participants. A disproportionate number of videos featured young African American males, making this a target population for education and prevention efforts. Our patient's TBSA exceeded the maximum found on YouTube, suggesting that less severe burns may be posted online while larger burns are not, diminishing perceived risk and encouraging this behavior.

New Innovations for Deep Partial-Thickness Burn Treatment with ACell MatriStem Matrix.

Objective: Burn injuries remain a large financial burden on the healthcare system. According to CDC statistics (2010), nonfatal and hospitalized burns in the U.S. cost $1.8 billion for an annual incidence of ∼486,000 cases. To date, no technique proves to be the ideal therapy of deep partial-thickness burns. In this study, we review a trial usage of ACell (ACell, Inc.) wound matrix on deep partial-thickness burns. Approach: Burn patients were admitted through the Vanderbilt Emergency Department. Three were consented to receive ACell therapy. Each patient suffered extremity burns, to which ACell MatriStem matrix was applied. Time to epithelialization and healing was monitored up to 1 month postintervention. Results: ACell MatriStem matrix use in deep partial-thickness burns enabled healing by 29 days on average without requiring autografts. The average total body surface area (TBSA) of injury was 7.2% with average TBSA treated with ACell equal to 2.5%. All burn sites underwent re-epithelialization after 5.6 days on average (range 4-7 days). Average length of stay after ACell placement totaled 2 days. All patients fully healed without the need for subsequent grafting or contracture development. No postoperative complications were noted. Innovation: To the extent of our knowledge, this is one of the first reported series to utilize ACell MatriStem product in deep partial-thickness extremity burns. Conclusion: Despite numerous products currently available for burn reconstruction, no one product embodies all the characteristics of an ideal graft. ACell biological extracellular matrix scaffolding appears promising, allowing for healing without use of an autograft.

The effect of weight loss surgery and body mass index on wound complications after abdominal contouring operations.

Abdominal contouring operations are in high demand after massive weight loss. Anecdotally, wound problems seemed to occur frequently in this patient population. Our study was designed to delineate risk factors for wound complications after body contouring. Our retrospective institutional analysis was assembled from 222 patients between 2001 and 2006 who underwent either abdominoplasty (N = 89) or panniculectomy (N = 133). Weight loss surgery (WLS) before body contouring occurred in 63% of our patients. Overall the wound complication rate in these patients was 34%: healing-disturbance 11%, wound infection 12%, hematoma 6%, and seroma 14%. WLS patients had an increase in wound complications overall (41% vs. 22%; P < 0.01) and in all categories of wound complications compared with non-WLS-patients by univariate methods of analysis. In a multivariate regression model, only American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification was a significant independent risk factor for wound complications. In conclusion, WLS patients are at increased risk for wound complications and American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification is the most predictive of risk.