Vasopressin for the septic burn patient

Routinely collected burn clinical data in Canada: Determining the knowledge gap

Unlike other developed countries that hold national burn registries to monitor burn injury and care, Canada relies on single-centre secondary datasets and administrative databases as surveillance mechanisms. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge gap faced in Canada for not having a dedicated burn registry. A comprehensive scoping review was conducted to identify the burn literature that has arisen from secondary datasets in Canada. Literature of all study designs was included with the exception of case reports and cases series. Once data extraction was concluded, a thematic framework was constructed based on the information that arose from nations that hold national burn registries. Eighty-eight studies were included. Twelve studies arose from national datasets, and 18 from provincial databases, most of which were from Ontario and British Columbia. Only seven studies were conducted using a combination of Canadian units' single-centre datasets. The majority of included studies (58%) resulted from non-collaborative use of single-centre secondary datasets. Research efforts were predominantly conducted by burn units in Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba and Alberta. A significant number of the included studies were outdated and several provinces/territories had no published burn data whatsoever. Efforts should be made towards the development of systems to surveil burn injury and care in Canada. This study supports the development of a nation-wide burn registry to bridge this knowledge gap.

Surviving Sepsis After Burn Campaign

INTRODUCTION

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign was developed to improve outcomes for all patients with sepsis. Despite sepsis being the primary cause of death after thermal injury, burns have always been excluded from the Surviving Sepsis efforts. To improve sepsis outcomes in burn patients, an international group of burn experts developed the Surviving Sepsis After Burn Campaign (SSABC) as a testable guideline to improve burn sepsis outcomes.

METHODS

The International Society for Burn Injuries (ISBI) reached out to regional or national burn organizations to recommend members to participate in the program. Two members of the ISBI developed specific "patient/population, intervention, comparison and outcome" (PICO) questions that paralleled the 2021 Surviving Sepsis Campaign [1]. SSABC participants were asked to search the current literature and rate its quality for each topic. At the Congress of the ISBI, in Guadalajara, Mexico, August 28, 2022, a majority of the participants met to create "statements" based on the literature. The "summary statements" were then sent to all members for comment with the hope of developing an 80% consensus. After four reviews, a consensus statement for each topic was created or "no consensus" was reported.

RESULTS

The committee developed sixty statements within fourteen topics that provide guidance for the early treatment of sepsis in burn patients. These statements should be used to improve the care of sepsis in burn patients. The statements should not be considered as "static" comments but should rather be used as guidelines for future testing of the best treatments for sepsis in burn patients. They should be updated on a regular basis.

CONCLUSION

Members of the burn community from the around the world have developed the Surviving Sepsis After Burn Campaign guidelines with the goal of improving the outcome of sepsis in burn patients.

Low-Dose vasopressin and renal perfusion in pediatric cardiac surgery

Background

Congenital heart surgeries are associated with post-bypass renal and cardiac dysfunctions. The use of low-dose vasopressin has been found to be beneficial in adult cardiac surgeries.

Objective

To assess the hemodynamic and renal effects of patients undergoing on-pump pediatric cardiac surgery under general anesthesia (GA) with low-dose vasopressin infusion.

Design

Prospective randomized controlled study.

Setting

Operation room and ICU, tertiary care teaching hospital.

Patients

Fifty-five pediatric cardiac patients undergoing repair for congenital heart diseases (CHD).

Interventions

Low-dose vasopressin infusion in the study group and placebo in the control group.

Measurements and Main Results

Renal near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), serum NGAL, and inflammatory mediators-IL6 and IL8 along with other renal and hemodynamic parameters in the perioperative period were recorded. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and cardiac index were significantly higher in the vasopressin group. Inflammatory markers were significantly high in the immediate postoperative period in all patients which later stabilized in the next 48 h but showed similar trends in both groups. Low-dose vasopressin infusion did not improve either renal perfusion or function. The duration of mechanical ventilation and length of hospital stay, the incidence of AKI development, and transfusion requirements were marginally lower in the vasopressin group, although not significant.

Conclusion

Low-dose vasopressin infusion improved hemodynamics and showed a decreased incidence of complications. However, it failed to show any benefit of renal function and overall outcome in pediatric cardiac surgery.

Total full-thickness skin grafting for treating patients with extensive facial burn injury: A 10-year experience

INTRODUCTION

Facial burns are not only a severe burn injury, but result in psychological disturbance. The improvement of the methods of treating facial burns remains topical. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of approach based on full-thickness skin autografting for facial burn injuries.

METHODS

During 2000-2019, ninety seven patients with the facial burn were treated in Burn Center. All patient were divided into two groups. The comparative analysis between groups was done.

RESULTS

Group A was treated with full-thickness skin grafts (42 patients - 43.3%). Since 2010, total full-thickness skin graft was used in 11 patients from Group A. In group B, 55 patients (56.7%) were treated with split-thickness skin grafts, including 9 patients (16.4%) with total split-thickness skin graft transplantation. Total full-thickness skin graft was performed in case of a deep and extensive facial burn and cicatricial deformities. During the long-term period, a positive cosmetic result and the absence of indications for reconstructive operations were noted.

CONCLUSION

The approach of facial burn treatment based on total full-thickness skin graft allows conditions for engraftment and adaptation of autograft, reduces the risk of scar developing and achieves maximum cosmetic results of treatment.

Cardiovascular Responsiveness to Vasopressin and α1-Adrenergic Receptor Agonists After Burn Injury

The effects of burn injury on cardiovascular responsiveness to vasoactive agents are not well understood. The aims of this study were to determine whether burn injury alters cardiovascular reactivity to vasoactive drugs in vivo and intrinsic function of isolated mesenteric resistance arteries. Anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to sham procedure or 30% TBSA dorsal scald burn, followed by crystalloid resuscitation (Parkland Formula). At 24, 72, 96, and 168 hours post burn, rats were reanesthetized, and the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) responses to various doses of the α1-adrenergic receptor agonist phenylephrine and arginine vasopressin were tested. Mesenteric arteries were harvested from uninjured animals and at 24 and 168 hours post burn. The responsiveness of arteries to phenylephrine and arginine vasopressin was tested by pressure myography. Dose response curves were generated and EC50 concentrations, Hill slopes, and maximal effects were compared. The potency of phenylephrine to increase MAP was reduced 2-fold 24 hours post burn (P < .05 vs sham) and gradually normalized at later time points. The reactivity of isolated arteries to phenylephrine was not significantly altered after burns. The potency of arginine vasopressin to increase MAP and to constrict isolated arteries was increased 2- to 3-fold at 24 hours post burn (P < .05) and normalized at later time points. Our findings suggest that burn injury differentially regulates vasopressor and blood pressure effects of α-adrenergic and vasopressin receptor agonists. Intrinsic vasopressin receptor reactivity of resistance arteries is sensitized early after burns. These findings will help to optimize resuscitation strategies and vasopressor use in difficult to resuscitate burn patients.

Modern trends in fluid therapy for burns

The majority of burn centres use the crystalloid-based Parkland formula to guide fluid therapy, but patients actually receive far more fluid than the formula predicts. Resuscitation with large volumes of crystalloid has numerous adverse consequences, including worsening of burn oedema, conversion of superficial into deep burns, and compartment syndromes. Resuscitation fluids influence the inflammatory response to burns in different ways and it may be possible, therefore to affect this response using the appropriate fluid, at the appropriate time. Starches are effective volume expanders and early use of newer formulations may limit resuscitation requirements and burn oedema by reducing inflammation and capillary leak. Advanced endpoint monitoring may guide clinicians in when to 'turn off' aggressive fluid therapy and therefore avoid the problems of over-resuscitation.

The year in burns 2007

In the year 2007, approximately 1000 original burn research articles were published in scientific journals using the English language. This article reviews approximately 90 of these which were deemed by the author to be the most important in terms of clinical burn care. Relevant topics include epidemiology, wound characterisation, critical care physiology, inhalation injury, infection, metabolism and nutrition, psychological considerations, pain management, rehabilitation, and burn reconstruction. Each selected article is mentioned briefly with editorial comment.

Vasopressin in pediatric shock and cardiac arrest

OBJECTIVE

To review the physiology and the published literature on the role of vasopressin in shock in children.

DATA SOURCE

We searched MEDLINE (1966-2007), EMBASE (1980-2007), and the Cochrane Library, using the terms vasopressin, terlipressin, and shock and synonyms or related terms for relevant studies in pediatrics. We searched the online ISRCTN-Current Controlled Trials registry for ongoing trials. We reviewed the reference lists of all identified studies and reviews as well as personal files to identify other published studies.

RESULTS

Beneficial effects have been reported in vasodilatory shock and asystolic cardiac arrest in adults. Solid evidence for vasopressin use in children is scant. Observational studies have reported an improvement in blood pressure and rapid weaning off catecholamines during administration of low-dose vasopressin. Dosing in children is extrapolated from adult studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Vasopressin offers promise in shock and cardiac arrest in children. However, in view of the limited experience with vasopressin, it should be used with caution. Results of a double-blind, randomized controlled trial in children with vasodilatory shock will be available soon.