Burns最新文献

Background: Early retrospective data identify that dysphagia is common in older persons with burn injury, suggesting a rate of 47 %, and that it is associated with medical, burn, and nutritional outcomes.

Aims: To prospectively (1) explore the incidence, (2) describe associations, and (3) evaluate risk factors for dysphagia in patients ≥ 75 years old hospitalised with burn injury.

Methods: All patients > 75 years old admitted to Concord-Repatriation-General-Hospital with burn injury over 4 years (2019-2023) were assessed for dysphagia on presentation and were continually monitored throughout their admission. Burn injury, demographic, and nutritional data were prospectively captured and analysed for association with dysphagia.

Results: Sixty-two patients (33 male) aged 75-95 years (median=83 years) were recruited. Dysphagia was identified in 50 %. Dysphagia was associated with burn size (p = 0.002), pre-existing cognitive impairment (p = 0.000), hospital length of stay (p = 0.001), in-hospital complications (p = 0.000), feeding dependence (p = 0.002), nutritional status (p = 0.013) and enteral feeding duration (p = 0.030). Cognitive impairment was the most sensitive predictor for dysphagia at 100 % (specificity=29 %, NPV=100 %, PPV=59 %). Development of secondary comorbidities was less sensitive at 52 % (NPV 65 %), but was associated with high specificity (90 %) and PPV (84 %).

Conclusions: One in every two patients ≥ 75 years admitted with burn injury will demonstrate dysphagia during their hospital admission. Those with pre-existing cognitive impairment are most at risk.

Objective: Pain and anxiety are common complications in burn patients, significantly impacting treatment effectiveness and overall patient well-being. Peer counseling, a form of patient education provided by individuals with shared experiences, may hold potential to alleviate this pain and anxiety. This study seeks to investigate the effectiveness of patient-centered education through peer counseling on background pain and state anxiety levels in these patients.

Methods: A two-arm, parallel, randomized, controlled trial design was employed. A total of 86 participants were randomly allocated to one of two groups: control and intervention groups. State anxiety and background pain levels were assessed using the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), respectively, before and after intervention. Statistical analyses, including Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test, and paired t-test, were employed to analyze the data.

Results: The intervention significantly reduced pain and anxiety in the intervention group compared to baseline (p < .001). There was no significant difference between the control and intervention groups in baseline levels, but there was a significant difference after the intervention (p < .001).

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the efficacy of patient-centered education through peer counseling in reducing background pain and state anxiety levels in burn patients. Compared to standard education, peer counseling led to a more pronounced reduction in both pain and anxiety, suggesting its potential as a valuable nonpharmaceutical intervention to improve patient well-being during burn recovery.

Practice implications: Based on our findings, we recommend that healthcare providers consider implementing peer-based education programs in burn care settings.

Introduction: Outcome monitoring can identify fluctuations in healthcare. Cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis can detect when mortality deviates from expected, allowing early intervention through targeted audit. We present a 10-year experience of the prospective use of CUSUM methodology in a regional burn centre.

Method: Prospective outcome monitoring was conducted for all admissions to the intensive care unit between 2012 and 2022. The revised Baux score was used for mortality risk prediction. Risk-adjusted CUSUM charts tracked mortality against that predicted by the revised Baux score. Deviations from expected outcomes triggered detailed structured analysis. Learning outcomes were identified from internal and external governance groups.

Results: CUSUM analysis was triggered on eight occasions: one paediatric (excess deaths), six adult (four excess survivors, two excess deaths) and one elderly (excess survivors). Detailed analysis identified areas for continuous improvement and positive themes from excess survivors.

Conclusion: The use of CUSUM as an early warning trigger stimulates assessment of practice and critical appraisal of factors contributing to unexpected mortality or survival. The revised Baux score at its foundation needs to be carefully considered but remains a valid model. One benefit is positive reinforcement of team cohesion and morale during periods of care excellence leading to excess survivors.

Background: The "one-day-per-percent" rule states that for burn patients, one day of hospital stay can be expected for each percentage of burned body surface. This study aimed to test the rule's predictive value.

Methods: The study is a register-based observational study on all burns treated in the Norwegian National Burn Center 2000-22. All children and adults admitted and actively treated in this period were included (2269 patients). Patients receiving palliative care were not included (55). Age when injured, sex, year of admittance, LOS (length of stay), %TBSA (total body surface area), discharged alive/dead, and palliative care: yes/no were extracted from the registry. Quantile regression was used to estimate the quantiles of LOS/%TBSA as a function of %TBSA.

Results: For injuries < 15 %TBSA, the median LOS/%TBSA values were above 1.0, and the ratio increased as the injury size decreased. The median LOS/%TBSA values were close to 1.0 for patients with injuries ≥ 15 %TBSA (Table 2, Figure 2). The quantile regression analysis revealed a considerable spread in estimated values for both adults and children. Children had a lower median LOS/%TBSA than adults and a value below 1.0 for injuries 15-30 %TBSA. When survivors and non-survivors were compared, a higher median LOS/%TBSA was found for survivors with injuries > 60 %TBSA.

Discussion: The "one-day-per-percent" rule does not seem applicable for injuries < 15 %TBSA. Even for more extensive injuries, the large spread in estimated values in different quantiles renders it poor at predicting length of hospital stay. There also seem to be many caveats when it is used to measure an institution's efficacy or when comparing different institutions.

Conclusion: The predictive value of the "one-day-per-percent" rule is deficient when considering individual patients. It does not fit for injuries < 15 %TBSA, and the significant variation for patients with injuries of a similar extent renders it not viable as a forecasting tool.

Background: Despite known inequalities, little is understood about the burden and healthcare experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who sustain a burn injury and their families.

Methods: The Coolamon Study recruited parents and carers whose children (aged <16 years) were Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander children and had presented to burn units across four Australian states, New South Wales (Sydney), Northern Territory (Darwin), Queensland (Brisbane, Townsville) and South Australia (Adelaide), between 2015 and 2018. Consent was obtained and carers completed baseline and subsequent interviews at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. Data were collected on the injury event, patient care and safety, sociodemographic factors, health related quality of life (PedsQual), and psychological distress (Kessler K-5).

Results: Of the 208 participants, 64 % were male; 26 % were aged less than 2 years and 37 % aged 2-4 years. The most common burn mechanisms were scalds (37 %), contact (33 %) and flame burns (21 %), with more severe burns and flame burns occurring in rural and remote settings. Most carers rated their child's care as either excellent or very good (82 %). Family distress, measured by the K-5, lessened over the 24 months, however the changes were not statistically significant. While 77 % of carers reported that they received enough information, 18 % reported they would have liked more, and 3 % reported no information was provided before treatment. Parents described mixed access to information about the types of support available to them, such as accommodation, meals, travel or cultural support.

Conclusion: Data from this cohort provide rich new information about risk factors and care received from point of injury through to rehabilitation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with burns, providing unique insights into what is needed for appropriate, culturally safe care.