Is the Parkland formula still the best method for determining the fluid resuscitation volume in adults for the first 24 hours after injury? - A retrospective analysis of burn patients in Germany

Burn data management and usage across Canada

INTRODUCTION

While some countries collect burn clinical data as part of nonspecific trauma datasets, others have developed burn registries allowing for benchmarking of outcome and quality-of-care data. The objectives of this project are to characterize the current state of burn clinical data collection and analysis in Canada, and to explore the interest of Canadian burn centers in contributing to a nation-wide burn registry.

METHODS

A 23-item mixed methods survey was created and delivered via REDCap® to burn directors of 22 burn centers across Canada. Quantitative items were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, and thematic analysis was used to explore qualitative data.

RESULTS

Sixteen (72 %) complete survey responses were received. All respondent units collect burn clinical data. Data are largely collected for quality improvement (69 %) and clinical research (50 %) purposes. Half of the institutions did not analyze their data, and a majority (67 %) did not benchmark their data against other datasets. The majority of respondents (93 %) demonstrated interest in contributing to a Canada-wide burn registry.

CONCLUSION

Although all respondent units are currently collecting burn clinical data, there is an opportunity to improve data analysis, benchmarking, and knowledge translation. Most centers demonstrated interest in contributing to a novel Canadian burn registry.

Using a Fluid Resuscitation Algorithm to Reduce the Incidence of Abdominal Compartment Syndrome in the Burn Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND

Patients with large burns must be carefully resuscitated to balance adequate tissue perfusion with the risk of end-organ damage. One devastating complication of overresuscitation is abdominal compartment syndrome. Reducing the volume of fluids given during resuscitation may reduce the incidence of abdominal compartment syndrome and improve outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether decreasing fluid resuscitation volume in a burn center reduced the incidence of abdominal compartment syndrome.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study involved all patients with severe burns (total body surface area ≥20%) who were admitted to a burn intensive care unit over 4 years (n = 166). Primary outcomes were required fluid volume, whether differences in the patient characteristics measured affected outcomes, rate of abdominal compartment syndrome, and incidence of abdominal hypertension. After the first 2 years, the Parkland fluid resuscitation algorithm was modified to decrease the volume goal, and patients were assessed for the incidence of abdominal compartment syndrome and related complications such as kidney failure, abdominal hypertension, and ventilator days.

RESULTS

A total of 16% of patients resuscitated using the Parkland equation experienced abdominal compartment syndrome compared with 10% of patients resuscitated using the modified algorithm, a difference of 6 percentage points (P = .39). Average volume administered was 11.8 L using the Parkland formula and 9.4 L using the modified algorithm (P = .03).

CONCLUSION

Despite a significant decrease in the amount of fluid administered, no significant difference was found in incidence of abdominal compartment syndrome or urine output. Matched prospective studies are needed to improve resuscitation care for patients with large burns.

An Overview of Recent Developments in the Management of Burn Injuries

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 11 million people suffer from burns every year, and 180,000 die from them. A burn is a condition in which heat, chemical substances, an electrical current or other factors cause tissue damage. Burns mainly affect the skin, but can also affect deeper tissues such as bones or muscles. When burned, the skin loses its main functions, such as protection from the external environment, pathogens, evaporation and heat loss. Depending on the stage of the burn, the patient's condition and the cause of the burn, we need to choose the most appropriate treatment. Personalization and multidisciplinary collaboration are key to the successful management of burn patients. In this comprehensive review, we have collected and discussed the available treatment options, focusing on recent advances in topical treatments, wound cleansing, dressings, skin grafting, nutrition, pain and scar tissue management.

Orbital Compartment Syndrome in Severe Burns: Predictive Factors, Timing, and Complications of Intervention

PURPOSE

Severe burn patients require high-volume fluid resuscitation, which increases risk for orbital compartment syndrome (OCS). We aimed to understand surgeons' practice patterns and to examine risk factors for OCS, timing of lateral canthotomy and cantholysis (LCC), and complications of intervention.

METHODS

A survey of American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and North American Society of Academic Orbital Surgeons' practice patterns in burn patients was undertaken. In addition, a retrospective analysis was conducted of 107 patients with burns greater than 20% total body surface area at 1 institution from January 1, 2009, to June 1, 2018. Patients with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, frostbite, or no ophthalmologic consultation were excluded. Risk factors for OCS, timing of LCC, and complications of the intervention were examined.

RESULTS

In the survey, 37 of 54 respondents had treated burn patients, of which 29 followed no protocol. Threshold intraocular pressure for intervention varied widely, and nearly all reported having seen complications from LCC in burn patients. For the retrospective analysis, 107 patients met criteria, of which 22 (20.6%) required LCC. Renal failure, inhalation injury, eyelid burns, higher total body surface area, elevated lactate, increased number of escharotomies, and greater total fluid required were significantly associated with the clinical decision that the patient was at risk for OCS requiring LCC. Fluid resuscitation in excess of the Ivy Index (250 ml/kg) increased odds of LCC 8.6 times. Average time of LCC was 15.8 hours after burn. LCC patients experienced higher rates of complications including eyelid retraction, exposure keratopathy, and corneal ulceration.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe burn patients should be monitored closely by an ophthalmologist during the first 48 hours for signs of OCS. Further studies should aim to recommend protocols guiding evaluation and intervention.

The Effect and Evaluation of the Third Military Medical University Fluid Resuscitation Formula

Background

The clinical efficacy of the third Military Medical University formula (TMMU formula) for fluid resuscitation stage was evaluated to improve the treatment level of adult patients with extensive burns during the shock stage.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of the data of 55 patients undergoing fluid resuscitation according to the TMMU formula within six hours after burn injury. The following indicators were collected: (1) demographic and injury information; (2) fluid resuscitation information; (3) efficiency information, including cardiovascular function, liver function, renal function, coagulation function evaluation indicators, blood concentration, and average urine output index.

Results

(1) In the first and second 24 hours after injury, the median fluid rehydration coefficient was 1.68 ml/kg·(%) TBSA and 1.15 ml/kg·(%) TBSA, the median ratio of crystal to colloid was 2.24 and 1.67, and the median urine output index was 0.75 ml/kg·h and 1.05 ml/kg·h, respectively. (2) The actual fluid volume during patient resuscitation is higher than the formula calculated volume, and this difference is more obvious in patients with burn area ≥80%. (3) In the second 24 hours, the value of the actual total fluid volume minus the formula total volume in the group with crystal to colloid ratio ≤2 was significantly lower than that in the ratio >2 group. (4) At 24 and 48 hours after injury, the cardiovascular function, liver function, renal function, and coagulation function were better than those before fluid resuscitation.

Conclusions

Early application of the TMMU formula for fluid resuscitation in adult patients with extensive burns is safe and effective, but the actual input volume often exceeds the volume calculated by the formula, especially in the second 24 hours after burn injury and in patients with larger burn areas. Increasing the colloid input volume can help reduce the total amount of fluid used for resuscitation.

Burn Registries State of Affairs: A Scoping review

Registry science allows for the interpretation of disease-specific patient data from secondary databases. It can be utilized to understand disease and injury, answer research questions, and engender benchmarking of quality-of-care indicators. Numerous burn registries exist globally, however, their contributions to burn care have not been summarized. The objective of this study is to characterize the available literature on burn registries. The authors conducted a scoping review, having registered the protocol a priori. A thorough search of the English literature, including grey literature, was carried out. Publications of all study designs were eligible for inclusion provided they utilized, analyzed, and/or critiqued data from a burn registry. Three hundred twenty studies were included, encompassing 16 existing burn registries. The most frequently used registries for peer-reviewed publications were the American Burn Association Burn Registry, Burn Model System National Database, and the Burns Registry of Australia and New Zealand. The main limitations of existing registries are the inclusion of patients admitted to burn centers only, deficient capture of outpatient and long-term outcome data, lack of data standardization across registries, and the paucity of studies on burn prevention and quality improvement methodology. Registries are an invaluable source of information for research, delivery of care planning, and benchmarking of processes and outcomes. Efforts should be made to stimulate other jurisdictions to build burn registries and for existing registries to be improved through data linkage with administrative databases, and by standardizing one international minimum dataset, in order to maximize the potential of registry science in burn care.

Review of History of Basic Principles of Burn Wound Management

Thermal energy is an essential and useful resource to humans in modern society. However, a consequence of using heat carelessly is burns. Burn injuries have various causes, such as exposure to flame, radiation, electrical, and chemical sources. In this study, we reviewed the history of burn wound care while focusing on the basic principles of burn management. Through this review, we highlight the need for careful monitoring and customization when treating burn victims at each step of wound care, as their individual needs may differ. We also propose that future research should focus on nanotechnology-based skin grafts, as this is a promising area for further improvement in wound care.

Burn Shock and Resuscitation: Review and State of the Science

Burn shock and acute fluid resuscitation continue to spark intense interest and debate among burn clinicians. Following a major burn injury, fluid resuscitation of burn shock is life-saving, but paradoxically can also be a source of increased morbidity and mortality because of the unintended consequence of systemic edema formation. Considerable research over the past two decades has been devoted to understanding the mechanisms of edema formation, and to develop strategies to curb resuscitation fluids and limit edema development. Recognition of burn endotheliopathy - injury to the endothelium's glycocalyx layer- is one of the most important recent developments in our understanding of burn shock pathophysiology. Newer monitoring approaches and resuscitation endpoints, along with alternative resuscitation strategies to crystalloids alone, such as administration of albumin, or plasma, or high dose ascorbic acid, have had mixed results in limiting fluid creep. Clear demonstration of improvements in outcomes with all of these approaches remains elusive. This comprehensive review article on burn shock and acute resuscitation accompanies the American Burn Association's State of the Science meeting held in New Orleans, LA on November 2-3, 2021 and the Proceedings of that conference published in this journal.