Reduced blood loss during burn surgery

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 A significant number of the included studies were outdated and several provinces/territories had no published burn data whatsoever.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.

Thrombin and Thrombin-Incorporated Biomaterials for Disease Treatments

Thrombin, a coagulation-inducing protease, has long been used in the hemostatic field. During the past decades, many other therapeutic uses of thrombin have been developed. For instance, burn treatment, pseudoaneurysm therapy, wound management, and tumor vascular infarction (or tumor vasculature blockade therapy) can all utilize the unique and powerful function of thrombin. Based on their therapeutic effects, many thrombin-associated products have been certificated by the Food and Drug Administration, including bovine thrombin, human thrombin, recombinant thrombin, fibrin glue, etc. Besides, several thrombin-based drugs are currently undergoing clinical trials. In this article, the therapeutic uses of thrombin (from the initial hemostasis to the latest cancer therapy), the commercially available drugs associated with thrombin, and the pros and cons of thrombin-based therapeutics (e.g., adverse immune responses related to bovine thrombin, thromboinflammation, and vasculogenic "rebounds") are summarized. Further, the current challenges and possible future research directions of thrombin-incorporated biomaterials and therapies are discussed. It is hoped that this review may provide a valuable reference for researchers in this field and help them to design safer and more effective thrombin-based drugs for fighting against various intractable diseases.

Reducing Blood Loss in a Burn Care Unit: A Review of Its Key Determinants

Patients with a major burn injury differ considerably from the typical critical ill and trauma population. Very often, burn patients suffer from anemia throughout their hospital stay. This is caused both by combination of persistent blood loss with decreased erythropoiesis. Therefore, burn patients do have major transfusion requirements. However, transfusion is not devoid of risks or costs. We hereby review the best surgical techniques and medical approaches, aiming to reduce blood loss in a burn patient and optimize red cell production, so that we can reduce the need of RBC transfusion. The implementation of a combination of surgical techniques aiming to reduce blood loss and medical care approaches to prevent anemia, rather than single attitudes, should be adopted in burn care. There is an urgent need for clear guidelines that can easily be accepted, applied, and spread across different burn units to methodically implement measures to reduce blood loss and transfusion needs, and ultimately improve burn patients' outcome and the health care financial status.

Topical Hemostatic Agents in Burn Surgery: A Systematic Review

Acute burn surgery has long been associated with significant intra-operative bleeding. Several techniques were introduced to limit hemorrhage, including tourniquets, tumescent infiltration, and topical agents. To date, no study has comprehensively investigated the available data regarding topical hemostatic agents in burn surgery. A systematic review was performed by two independent reviewers using electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) from first available to September 10, 2021. Articles were included if they were published in English and described or evaluated topical hemostatic agents used in burn excision and/or grafting. Data were extracted on the agent(s) used, their dosage, mode of delivery, hemostasis outcomes, and complications. The search identified 1982 nonduplicate citations, of which 134 underwent full-text review, and 49 met inclusion criteria. In total, 32 studies incorporated a vasoconstrictor agent, and 28 studies incorporated a procoagulant agent. Four studies incorporated other agents (hydrogen peroxide, tranexamic acid, collagen sheets, and TT-173). The most common vasoconstrictor used was epinephrine, with doses ranging from 1:1000 to 1:1,000,000. The most common procoagulant used was thrombin, with doses ranging from 10 to 1000 IU/ml. Among the comparative studies, outcomes of blood loss were not reported in a consistent manner, therefore meta-analysis could not be performed. The majority of studies (94%) were level of evidence III-V. Determining the optimal topical hemostatic agent is limited by low-quality data and challenges with consistent reporting of intra-operative blood loss. Given the routine use of topical hemostatic agents in burn surgery, high-quality research is essential to determine the optimal agent, dosage, and mode of delivery.

Reduced Intraoperative Blood Loss and Hypothermia in Burn Surgery using Cardiopulmonary Bypass Pumps

Objective: Patients presenting with total body surface area (TBSA) >40% burns require significant surgical treatment. Two substantial challenges during these surgeries are limiting blood loss and maintaining core temperatures. To overcome these challenges, several techniques have been developed, ranging from the Pitkin syringe method to the pneumatic tourniquet strategy for large-volume hyperthermic insufflation. Here, we compare the pneumatic tourniquet method to a roller pump method for maintenance of intraoperative normothermia and control of bleeding. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 20 patients presenting with TBSA >40% burns, 10 of whom were treated with the rapid infusion roller pump and 10 of whom were treated with the pneumatic tourniquet technique. Patients from each group were controlled for % TBSA, presence of inhalation injury, age, and date of admission. We reviewed transfusion requirement and the intraoperative temperatures, as well as the average intraoperative drop in temperature. Results: We observed improvement in the infusion volume, operative time, intraoperative temperature drop, minimum intraoperative temperature, estimated blood loss, and amount of required transfusion. Conclusions: Our study suggests that the rapid infusion roller pump technique is capable of achieving superior intraoperative bleeding control and temperature maintenance compared to the pneumatic tourniquet technique, resulting in decreased transfusion requirement.

Comparing the Efficiency of Tumescent Infiltration Techniques in Burn Surgery

Tangential excision and grafting of burn wounds result in significant intraoperative blood loss, and infiltration of a dilute epinephrine solution (tumescence) is routinely performed to reduce such bleeding. Tumescent infiltration has been described using both a manual technique (syringe) and a pump device. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficiency of these two methods in terms of time and economy of motion. Consecutive adult burn patients at a single center requiring excision and grafting were enrolled in the study and randomized into either the manual or pump technique. Excisions involving less than 2% TBSA were excluded, along with specific anatomic regions (eg, head and neck). Infiltration with epinephrine solution (1:500,000) was performed to the endpoint of tumescence by a single surgeon and filmed/coded for duration, number of maneuvers, and volume of tumescence injected. Fourteen patients were enrolled, and 16 cases were randomized to either manual (N = 8) or pump infiltration (N = 8). The pump method required less time (2.0 vs 1.1 cm2/s, P < .001) and fewer maneuvers (37.8 vs 1.1 cm2/move, P < .001) to reach the desired endpoint of tumescence. Use of the infiltration pump also resulted in a reduced volume of tumescent fluid required to reach this point of tumescence (1.7 vs 2.4 mL/cm2, P = .01). Compared to the manual technique, an infiltration pump was significantly more efficient in terms of both time and economy of motion. These reductions are potentially useful for improving operating room efficiency as well as minimizing operator fatigue.

Treatment of Anaemia in Patients with Acute Burn Injury: A Study of Blood Transfusion Practices

Objective: To determine blood transfusion practices, risk factors, and outcomes associated with the use of blood products in the setting of the acute management of burn patients at the Victorian Adult Burn Service. Background: Patients with burn injuries have variable transfusion requirements, based on a multitude of factors. We reviewed all acute admissions to the Victorian Adult Burns Service (VABS) between 2011 and 2017: 1636 patients in total, of whom 948 had surgery and were the focus of our analysis. Method and results: Patient demographics, surgical management, transfusion details, and outcome parameters were collected and analyzed. A total of 175 patients out of the 948 who had surgery also had a blood transfusion, while 52% of transfusions occurred in the perioperative period. The median trigger haemoglobin in perioperative was 80mg/dL (IQR = 76–84.9 mg/dL), and in the non-perioperative setting was 77 mg/dL (IQR = 71.61–80.84 mg/dL). Age, gender, % total body surface area (TBSA) burn, number of surgeries, and intensive care unit and hospital length of stay were associated with transfusion. Conclusions: The use of blood transfusions is an essential component of the surgical management of major burns. As observed in our study, half of these transfusions are related to surgical procedures and may be influenced by the employment of blood conserving strategies. Furthermore, transfusion trigger levels in stable patients may be amenable to review and reduction. Risk adjusted analysis can support the implementation of blood transfusion as a useful quality indicator in burn care.

Advantages of immediate excision of burn eschar

Early excision of deep burn eschar and the expeditious closure of the resultant wounds have become established as gold standard burn care. However, early burn excision has been accepted as up to four days post injury based on a series of misconceptions, not least that the patient is too unwell to undergo surgery and tolerate anaesthesia too soon after injury. There are several reasons why immediate burn excision yields superior survival outcomes, and these are expounded in this article. The systemic pathophysiology following major burn injury, especially when complicated by the respiratory pathophysiology accompanying smoke inhalation, evolves. The hours immediately after burn injury offer several windows of surgical opportunity, windows closed by the pathophysiological events that peak 24 hours later and make surgery and anaesthesia at that time both dangerous and ill-advised.

Effects of a restrictive blood transfusion protocol on acute pediatric burn care: Transfusion threshold in pediatric burns

BACKGROUND

Blood transfusion is costly and associated with various medical risks. Studies in critically ill adult and pediatric patients suggest that implementation of more restrictive transfusion protocols based on lower threshold hemoglobin concentrations can be medically and economically advantageous. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implications of a hemoglobin threshold change in pediatric burn patients.

METHODS

We implemented a change in hemoglobin threshold from 10 g/dL to 7 g/dL and compared data from patients before and after this protocol change in a retrospective review. Primary endpoints were hemoglobin concentration at baseline, before transfusion, and after transfusion; amount of blood product administered; and mortality. Secondary endpoints were the incidence of sepsis based on the American Burn Association physiological criteria for sepsis and mean number of septic days per patient. All endpoint analyses were adjusted for relevant clinical covariates via generalized additive models or Cox proportional hazard model. Statistical significance was accepted at p less than 0.05.

RESULTS

Patient characteristics and baseline hemoglobin concentrations (pre, 13.5 g/dL; post, 13.3 g/dL; p > 0.05) were comparable between groups. The group transfused based on the more restrictive hemoglobin threshold had lower hemoglobin concentrations before and after transfusion throughout acute hospitalization, received lower volumes of blood during operations (pre, 1012 mL; post, 824 mL; p < 0.001) and on days without surgical procedures (pre, 602 mL; post, 353 mL; p < 0.001), and had a lower mortality (pre, 8.0%; post, 3.9%; mortality hazard decline, 0.55 [45%]; p < 0.05). Both groups had a comparable incidence of physiological sepsis, though the more restrictive threshold group had a lower number of sepsis days per patient.

CONCLUSION

More restrictive transfusion protocols are safe and efficacious in pediatric burn patients. The associated reduction of transfused blood may lessen medical risks of blood transfusion and lower economic burden.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, level IV.

Factor XIII-guided treatment algorithm reduces blood transfusion in burn surgery

Background and objectives

Major burn surgery causes large hemorrhage and coagulation dysfunction. Treatment algorithms guided by ROTEM^® and factor VIIa reduce the need for blood products, but there is no evidence regarding factor XIII. Factor XIII deficiency changes clot stability and decreases wound healing. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of factor XIII correction and its repercussion on transfusion requirements in burn surgery.

Methods

Randomized retrospective study with 40 patients undergoing surgery at the Burn Unit, allocated into Group A those with factor XIII assessment (n = 20), and Group B, those without assessment (n = 20). Erythrocyte transfusion was guided by a hemoglobin trigger of 10 g.dL⁻¹ and the other blood products by routine coagulation and ROTEM^® tests. Analysis of blood product consumption included units of erythrocytes, fresh frozen plasma, platelets, and fibrinogen. The coagulation biomarker analysis compared the pre- and post-operative values.

Results and conclusions

Group A (with factor XIII study) and Group B had identical total body surface area burned. All patients in Group A had a preoperative factor XIII deficiency, whose correction significantly reduced units of erythrocyte concentrate transfusion (1.95 vs. 4.05, p = 0.001). Pre- and post-operative coagulation biomarkers were similar between groups, revealing that routine coagulation tests did not identify factor XIII deficiency. There were no recorded thromboembolic events. Correction of factor XIII deficiency in burn surgery proved to be safe and effective for reducing perioperative transfusion of erythrocyte units.

Important Developments in Burn Care

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Explain the epidemiology of severe burn injury in the context of socioeconomic status, gender, age, and burn cause. 2. Describe challenges with burn depth evaluation and novel methods of adjunctive assessment. 3. Summarize the survival and functional outcomes of severe burn injury. 4. State strategies of fluid resuscitation, endpoints to guide fluid titration, and sequelae of overresuscitation. 5. Recognize preventative measures of sepsis. 6. Explain intraoperative strategies to improve patient outcomes, including hemostasis, restrictive transfusion, temperature regulation, skin substitutes, and Meek skin grafting. 7. Translate updates in the pathophysiology of hypertrophic scarring into novel methods of clinical management. 8. Discuss the potential role of free tissue transfer in primary and secondary burn reconstruction.

SUMMARY

Management of burn-injured patients is a challenging and unique field for plastic surgeons. Significant advances over the past decade have occurred in resuscitation, burn wound management, sepsis, and reconstruction that have improved outcomes and quality of life after thermal injury. However, as patients with larger burns are resuscitated, an increased risk of nosocomial infections, sepsis, compartment syndromes, and venous thromboembolic phenomena have required adjustments in care to maintain quality of life after injury. This article outlines a number of recent developments in burn care that illustrate the evolution of the field to assist plastic surgeons involved in burn care.

Nonclinical Evaluation of the New Topical Hemostatic Agent TT-173 for Skin Grafting Procedures

Blood loss during grafting surgery represents a major concern of this procedure and the development of hemostatic agents for this indication is highly desirable. TT-173 is the first biologically active treatment based on tissue factor instead of thrombin. This study sought to investigate the efficacy, systemic absorption, and toxicology of TT-173 in animal models to support clinical evaluation of the product in donor sites of patients subjected to skin grafting. Procoagulant efficacy of 148 μg of TT-173 was evaluated in pigs in presence and absence of anticoagulant treatment with unfractioned heparin. Systemic absorption was quantified and characterized in rats subjected to severe skin lesions with affectation of muscular plane using TT-173 radiolabeled with I. The same animal model was used to test the toxicology of a dose of 80 μg of the product. Application of TT-173 significantly reduced the bleeding time of donor sites, even under anticoagulant treatment. Systemic absorption was low; it was excreted through urine and did not concentrate in organs such as liver, lung, or spleen suggesting that the absorbed dose could correspond to degradation fragments without procoagulant activity. Finally, a dose of 80 μg of TT-173 did not cause analytical disturbances suggestive of intravascular coagulation or any other adverse reaction. Nonclinical data obtained suggest that TT-173 could be useful to reduce the blood loss associated to burns treatment and support the clinical evaluation of the product in donor sites of patients subjected to skin grafting.

A haemostatic technique using silicone gel dressing for burn surgery

Significant blood loss and high rates of transfusion remain ongoing concerns in burn surgery. We have reported a haemostatic technique using silicone gel dressing to minimise bleeding during tangential excision in burn surgery. The purpose of this study was to identify the efficacy of our novel haemostatic technique for burn surgery. This study was a retrospective observational study. From 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2015, we collated data including pre- and 24-hour postoperative haemoglobin levels from patients over 15 years of age who underwent tangential excision for burn injuries. We also collected data on the amounts of measured blood loss, blood transfusions, excised areas, harvest areas and duration of surgeries. The collected data were divided into a conventional group and a silicone gel dressing group. Then, we analysed the differences between the two groups. During the study period, 357 patients were admitted to our burn centre, and 60 operations (44 patients) were performed by tangential excision. The conventional group comprised 28 operations (20 patients), and the silicone gel dressing group comprised 32 operations (26 patients). Excised areas and harvested areas were significantly larger in the silicone gel dressing group than in the conventional group. The amount of blood loss per percent excised and the number of units of blood transfused were significantly lower in the silicone gel dressing group. Duration of the surgeries was almost the same between the two groups. Application of our new technique during tangential excision for burn injuries resulted in a remarkable reduction in blood loss and transfusion requirements.

Effect of subcutaneous epinephrine/saline/local anesthetic versus saline-only injection on split-thickness skin graft donor site perfusion, healing, and pain

The technique for split-thickness skin graft harvest varies among surgeons. Even though there is scientific evidence that the subcutaneous injection of modified tumescent solution reduces blood loss during burn surgery, the technique has not been unanimously adapted because of, in part, fear of healing retardation. This study prospectively examines the effect of tumescent injection on donor site perfusion, healing, and pain. Ten burn patients in need of grafting with a need for two distinctly different donor sites were included. During the grafting procedure, the two donor areas were randomly assigned to receive either modified tumescent solution or warm sterile saline solution subcutaneously before skin graft harvest with a dermatome. Perfusion, pain, pruritus, and donor site healing were measured, and a follow-up evaluation on scar quality was performed. Baseline perfusion on day 1 was significantly less in the donor site injected with modified tumescent solution (62.26 vs 95.71 perfusion units; P = .031), whereas the response to heat was similar in both sites. The physiologic response to injury (hyperemia) on days 2 and 3 was not suppressed in the modified tumescent group. Pain reported on day 1 was 2.38/10 in the tumescent site and 3.38/10 in the saline site (P = .21). On all other days, measurements showed no difference between the two sites. Donor sites healed in an average of 16.1 days with modified tumescent solution and in 16.4 days with saline. Late follow-up showed no difference in scar quality. The subcutaneous injection of modified tumescent solution before split-thickness donor site harvest has no adverse effect on donor site perfusion past day 1 or donor site healing. The addition of a local anesthetic may decrease pain for 24 hours postoperatively, but the difference in this study group was not significant. This technique should be universally recommended.

The totality of burn care

The overall improvement in mortality following severe burns has dramatically increased in the last half century with enhanced methods of resuscitation, treatment of inhalation injury, control of infection, early wound excision and novel methods of skin resurfacing. Although burn care begins at the onset of injury, reconstruction and rehabilitation feature highly throughout the various stages of treatment. Ultimately, we will have achieved little if the patient cannot be integrated back into society. For descriptive purposes burn care has been considered chronologically under the following headings: (1) First Two Minutes (Prehospital Care/First Aid), (2) First Two Hours (Emergency Room care), (3) First two days (resuscitation), (4) First Two Weeks (surgical excision and grafting), (5) First Two Months (rehabilitation and psychology), (6) First Two Years (reconstruction).

Application of split-thickness dermal grafts in deep partial- and full-thickness burns: a new source of auto-skin grafting

Early tangential excision of nonviable burn tissue, followed by immediate skin grafting with autograft or allograft, has resulted in the improvement of burn patient survival. The aim of this study was to add split-thickness dermal grafts (STDGs) as a new source of auto-skin grafting tool to our reconstructive armamentarium in deep partial- and full-thickness burns and soft tissue defects. The authors successfully applied STDGs along with split-thickness skin grafts as a new source of auto-skin grafting in 11 deep partial- and full-thickness burns over a period of 1 year without any significant donor site morbidity. Dermal graft take was complete in all but one patient. There was no donor site healing problem, and donor site epithelization was completed generally 1 week later than split-thickness skin graft by semi-open technique. Autologous split-thickness skin grafting still remains the standard therapy for burn wound closure but may be in limited availability in severe burns. The authors conclude that STDGs may be a new source of auto-skin grafting tool in extensive deep partial- and full-thickness burns.

Development of a long-term ovine model of cutaneous burn and smoke inhalation injury and the effects of early excision and skin autografting

Smoke inhalation injury frequently increases the risk of pneumonia and mortality in burn patients. The pathophysiology of acute lung injury secondary to burn and smoke inhalation is well studied, but long-term pulmonary function, especially the process of lung tissue healing following burn and smoke inhalation, has not been fully investigated. By contrast, early burn excision has become the standard of care in the management of major burn injury. While many clinical studies and small-animal experiments support the concept of early burn wound excision, and show improved survival and infectious outcomes, we have developed a new chronic ovine model of burn and smoke inhalation injury with early excision and skin grafting that can be used to investigate lung pathophysiology over a period of 3 weeks.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen female sheep were surgically prepared for this study under isoflurane anesthesia. The animals were divided into three groups: an Early Excision group (20% TBSA, third-degree cutaneous burn and 36 breaths of cotton smoke followed by early excision and skin autografting at 24h after injury, n=6), a Control group (20% TBSA, third-degree cutaneous burn and 36 breaths of cotton smoke without early excision, n=6) and a Sham group (no injury, no early excision, n=6). After induced injury, all sheep were placed on a ventilator and fluid-resuscitated with Lactated Ringers solution (4 mL/% TBS/kg). At 24h post-injury, early excision was carried out to fascia, and skin grafting with meshed autografts (20/1000 in., 1:4 ratio) was performed under isoflurane anesthesia. At 48 h post-injury, weaning from ventilator was begun if PaO(2)/FiO(2) was above 250 and sheep were monitored for 3 weeks.

RESULTS

At 96 h post-injury, all animals were weaned from ventilator. There are no significant differences in PaO(2)/FiO(2) between Early Excision and Control groups at any points. All animals were survived for 3 weeks without infectious complication in Early Excision and Sham groups, whereas two out of six animals in the Control group had abscess in lung. The percentage of the wound healed surviving area (mean ± SD) was 74.7 ± 7.8% on 17 days post-surgery in the Early Excision group. Lung wet-to-dry weight ratio (mean ± SD) was significantly increased in the Early Excision group vs. Sham group (p<0.05). The calculated net fluid balance significantly increased in the early excision compared to those seen in the Sham and Control groups. Plasma protein, oncotic pressure, hematocrit of % baseline, hemoglobin of % baseline, white blood cell and neutrophil were significantly decreased in the Early Excision group vs. Control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The early excision model closely resembles practice in a clinical setting and allows long-term observations of pulmonary function following burn and smoke inhalation injury. Further studies are warranted to assess lung tissue scarring and measuring collagen deposition, lung compliance and diffusion capacity.

Red blood cell transfusion following burn

A severe burn will significantly alter haematologic parameters, and manifest as anaemia, which is commonly found in patients with greater than 10% total body surface area (TBSA) involvement. Maintaining haemoglobin and haematocrit levels with blood transfusion has been the gold standard for the treatment of anaemia for many years. While there is no consensus on when to transfuse, an increasing number of authors have expressed that less blood products should be transfused. Current transfusion protocols use a specific level of haemoglobin or haematocrit, which dictates when to transfuse packed red blood cells (PRBCs). This level is known as the trigger. There is no one 'common trigger' as values range from 6 g dl(-1) to 8 g dl(-1) of haemoglobin. The aim of this study was to analyse the current status of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in the treatment of burn patients, and address new information regarding burn and blood transfusion management. Analysis of existing transfusion literature confirms that individual burn centres transfuse at a lower trigger than in previous years. The quest for a universal transfusion trigger should be abandoned. All RBC transfusions should be tailored to the patient's blood volume status, acuity of blood loss and ongoing perfusion requirements. We also focus on the prevention of unnecessary transfusion as well as techniques to minimise blood loss, optimise red cell production and determine when transfusion is appropriate.

Hemostasis in burn surgery--a review

Over the past 30 years, techniques of early excision and grafting along with enhancement of critical care have significantly improved survival following burn injury. Despite these advancements, large volume blood loss associated with surgical intervention continues to be a challenging aspect of burn surgery. This review article will examine the methods of limiting blood loss during surgical procedures.

Revisiting protocols for burn injury management

The aim of the study was to reassess surgical protocols developed and introduced in 2005; to examine the changes that have been made and to understand why they have been necessary or felt to be an improvement on the original; and to introduce a new protocol to assist with burn depth assessment. A discussion of how the protocols were developed and the environment in which they are used is undertaken. Four years of experience using the protocols has been accrued. An examination of alterations is performed. The protocols have allowed a single-handed practitioner to deal successfully with a large caseload and enabled a greater understanding of time and resource management. The original development of the protocols was worthwhile but their continued evolution by frequent audit and evaluation of innovations in burn care is mandatory.

The practical procedure of tumescent technique in burn surgery for excision of burn eschar

The tumescent technique, which involves injection of large volumes of dilute epinephrine solution into subcutaneous fat, has been shown to markedly increase the safety of liposuction surgery, which is associated with risks of blood loss. The authors use this technique during burn surgery and developed a practical method of determining the amount of solution injected. The authors have applied the tumescent technique consisting of subeschar infiltration of dilute epinephrine (1 mg/L) in thermoneutral (37 degrees C) saline. Preoperatively, a 5 x 5 cm square grid pattern is drawn on the burn wound, which facilitates estimation of the amount of infiltrated solution. The authors injected 20 ml of solution per square in the grid. Ten consecutive patients underwent 15 surgical procedures for tangential excision and split-thickness skin grafting. There were no complications during the intraoperative or postoperative period. Their method using a grid pattern drawn on the tissue being treated by the tumescent technique in burn surgery facilitates the excision of burn eschar.

Haemostatic effects of adrenaline-lidocaine subcutaneous infiltration at donor sites

This study sought methods in burn surgery to reduce postoperative pain and blood loss at donor sites. A prospective, randomised, controlled, blinded trial included 56 people undergoing burn surgery, divided into two groups. Both groups received subcutaneous infiltration at donor sites, with either 1:500,000 adrenaline solution containing added lidocaine or with 0.45% normal saline (controls). Outcome measurements included amount of intraoperative bleeding, need for electrocautery, days the hydrocolloid dressing remained on donor sites, percentage of re-epithelialised skin at donor sites 1 week after surgery and viability of skin grafts. Results indicated that subcutaneous adrenaline-lidocaine infiltration at donor sites reduced intraoperative bleeding, decreased postoperative pain, shortened the duration of surgery and general anaesthesia and accelerated re-epithelialisation at the donor site. The overall graft take in both groups was similar.

Burn injuries

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize new advances and research findings that relate to the treatment of burn victims.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent advances in burn resuscitation and critical care reflect a better understanding of the acute phase pathophysiology of severe burns. Aggressive management of the unstable burn airway is always the most important clinical priority. Emphasis has been placed on the early identification of inhalation injury and its impact on fluid resuscitation, as well as on a protective lung strategy to reduce the development of pulmonary edema, acute lung injury and pneumonia, and to reduce the risk of barotrauma. New blood markers, such as serum cholinesterase and inflammatory cytokines, have been introduced to assist in the prognosis of morbidity and mortality, beyond the traditional vital signs. At this time, however, these are available only for research purposes. Finally, early burn wound excision and coverage with new biodegradable materials results in less pain and more rapid healing for the patient.

SUMMARY

The combination of innovative approaches and a dedicated burn team is expected to continue to improve survival in the next few years even in the most severe cases.

Thermal and electrical injuries

Through progress in wound management, resuscitation, intensive care treatment, and a coordinated rehabilitation process, modern burn care has been able to deliver substantial increases in survival and improvement in functional outcomes for burn victims. The development of regionalized burn centers has contributed greatly to this progress. As the field of burns matures, burn centers are preparing to meet future challenges through collaborative efforts in disaster management and outcomes research.

DEVELOPMENT OF PATIENT PATHWAYS FOR THE SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF BURN INJURY

BACKGROUND

There are many reasons for the development of patient pathways in burn surgery introduced at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in South Australia at the beginning of January 2005. These include education, standardization of technique, scheduling of surgical episodes and rationalization of the use of expensive therapies.

METHODS

A critical appraisal of both evidence based on published work and personal/peer experience has been used to generate the current pathways.

RESULTS

The year 2005 was the busiest in the history of the hospital, both in numerical terms and in the proportion of major burn injuries. These protocols were effective in enabling us to cope with negligible mortality.

CONCLUSION

Although the first draft pathways work in our unit, they will undergo regular audit. It is hoped that they will form a template that can assist other services to create their own pathways.

Transfusion-free pediatric burn surgery: techniques and strategies

More than 1.3 million children sustain burns each year, resulting in 40,000 admissions and more than 3000 pediatric deaths. Pediatric burn surgery has been described as excessively bloody. Strategies to reduce intraoperative blood loss include the use of topical thrombin and epinephrine, extremity tourniquets, acute normovolemic hemodilution, and hypotensive anesthesia. This study reviews the single surgeon pediatric burn experience at a children's hospital and describes a comprehensive blood conservation protocol to achieve transfusion-free pediatric burn surgery. A retrospective chart review of consecutive pediatric burn surgeries from July 2000 to April 2002 was performed. Patient demographics, burn characteristics, treatment, blood loss, laboratory values, transfusion history, and complications were reviewed. Blood loss per percent total body surface area (TBSA) treated as well as percent total blood volume (TBV) loss divided by percent TBSA treated were calculated. A total 31 burn surgeries in 23 patients were reviewed. The average age was 7 years (range, 9 months-17 years). There were 17 extremity, 6 trunk, and 2 head/neck burns. The average TBSA burned was 15% (range, 1-55%). The protocol to reduce intraoperative blood loss consisted of the debridement of full-thickness burns with electrocautery and partial-thickness burns with dermabrasion. All debrided or harvested surgical sites were treated immediately with epinephrine solution-soaked pads. All graft harvest sites were injected with an epinephrine solution before harvesting split-thickness skin grafts. The average TBSA treated per surgery was 7% (range, 1-29%). The average blood loss per percent TBSA treated was 15 mL (range, 0.7-37 mL). The average percent TBV/percent TBSA was 0.76% (range, 0.04-3.6%). All 20 patients underwent surgical debridement, 7 patients were treated with AlloDerm and ultrathin split-thickness skin grafts, 2 with full-thickness skin grafts, and 17 with split-thickness skin grafts alone. Five children required blood transfusions. These burns averaged 32% TBSA (range, 20-55%). All 5 children receiving transfusions had anemia of thermal injury and demonstrated an average preoperative drop in hematocrit of 12% (range, 10-14%). There was a 29% complication rate, with 7 patients experiencing partial graft loss, and 1 patient who developed a postgraft contracture that required revisional surgery. There was a single mortality secondary to systemic inflammatory response syndrome and acute respiratory distress syndrome. After the proposed pediatric burn treatment protocol, intraoperative blood loss requiring transfusion can be minimized or eliminated. Large TBSA burns must be surveilled for burn wound anemia that may ultimately require blood transfusion.

State of the Art in Burn Treatment

Optimal treatment of burn victims requires deep understanding of the profound pathophysiological changes occurring locally and systemically after injury. Accurate estimation of burn size and depth, as well as early resuscitation, is essential. Good burn care includes also cleansing, debridement, and prevention of sepsis. Wound healing, is of major importance to the survival and clinical outcome of burn patients. An ideal therapy would not only promote rapid healing but would also act as an antiscarring therapy. The present article is a literature review of the most up-to-date modalities applied to burn treatment without overlooking the numerous controversies that still persist.

Damage limitation in burn surgery

Burn injury differs from other types of trauma in the apparent lack of urgency for treatment. We argue that in order to limit physiological damage and the development of multi-organ failure, management of the burn wound must be immediate and aggressive. Supportive fluid treatment should be judicious in order to prevent excessive oedema causing wound extension. Some potential strategies utilising oral fluid resuscitation are discussed, and potential pharmacological interventions. When associated with other trauma, major burn injury has a detrimental effect on morbidity and mortality, and surgical management of both aspects of a patient's injuries are altered.

The Effects of Tumescent Solutions Containing Lidocaine and Epinephrine on Skin Flap Survival in Rats

The effects of tumescent solutions consisting of lidocaine and epinephrine on skin flap survival in rats were studied. Dorsal skin flaps of rats were infiltrated using lidocaine (1%) with epinephrine in concentrations of 1:100,000, 1:200,000, 1:400,000, and 1:800,000 prior to elevating flaps of the different experimental groups. The solutions were applied intradermally or subcutaneously, and the flaps were raised "immediately" or "delayed" after injection in the different groups. Control flaps were infiltrated by lidocaine (1%) only. The survival of the flaps was assessed on the seventh day after the operation. As a result, the flaps showed higher necrosis rates in the groups injected by lidocaine with epinephrine in concentration of 1:100,000 and 1:200,000 than of the other experimental or all control groups (P < 0.01). In conclusion, lidocaine with epinephrine in concentrations of 1:400,000 and 1:800,000 was found safe on skin flap survival for tumescent technique in rats.