RESUMO
Background: The pattern of burns in victims varies with the manner of infliction of burns. Age plays an important role in deciding the mortality and morbidity of burn victims. Other factors that decide the prognosis of burn victims are the total body surface area (TBSA), Depth of burns, and inhalational injury as evidenced by facial burns. Assessment of these epidemiological factors and inhalational injury can be done as a part of the initial evaluation. Such an assessment aid in resuscitation including emergent airway and decision making regarding the need for skin grafts or escharotomy. Serial measurement of total leucocyte count also helps in identifying the onset of infection and progress to septicaemia and increased mortality rates.Methods: As a part of the initial evaluation, we attempt to study the relation between TBSA, Depth of burns, facial burns, and total WBC count with mortality. A background of septicaemia was also noticed in the majority of patients.Results: For analysis, patients were divided into two groups- Survivors and Non-survivors. A fall in total WBC count coincided with the onset of sepsis and mortality. The other three factors also had a direct correlation with mortality rates.Conclusions: A scoring system constituting all the factors is essential as an initial diagnostic step and it will help in deciding early intubation, escharotomy, and aggressive fluid resuscitation.
RESUMO
Background: The visibility, vulnerability and social stigmata of facial scars whether by burn, nevi or trauma can be compelling for the patient as well as challenging for the surgeon. Restoration to normal form and aesthetics require tissue replacement which has good colour and texture match and produce minimal visible scarring. Although many other options are available for a given defect, tissue expansion offers the best alternative which meets almost all the criteria of an ideal procedure.Methods: Among 92 patients with deformities over various facial subunits were operated and expanders 50 ml to 300 ml inserted subcutaneously adjacent to the scar. Prior planning, accurate measurement and choice of ideal expander is extremely important. A precise and practical method of calculation for determination of amount and duration of expander was used. Any secondary deformity to adjoining vital structures was avoided.Results: Results were meticulously and critically analyzed. Different shapes, dimensions and volume of expanders were used depending on the anatomical site which was to be expanded. A total of 118 expanders were inserted in 92 patients. The average volume of tissue expanders used was 170.33 ml. Majority of the expanders used had volume of 200 ml (62.71%). Post-expansion volume was 240.67 ml and the over expansion done was 41.3% over the pre-expansion volume of 170.33 ml. Surgical outcome and cosmesis was assessed by the patient’s perspective and was considered fair by 57.61% patients.Conclusions: The study underlines the clinical application, reasons for overexpansion as well as shortcomings and complications of tissue expansion.
RESUMO
Throwing highly corrosive acid into someone’s face to cause the deliberate destruction of an individual’s appearance is a serious assault. Some victims die as a result of the attack, some are blinded, and all have their facial features marred for life, causing severe social isolation and ostracism, and leading some victims to commit suicide years after the attack. Acid attacks in Cambodia are commonplace occurrences: a personal revenge for a variety of interpersonal disputes and perceived insults. Similar attacks occur in other developing countries, most especially in South and South-East Asia, and the first case occurring in Canada was recently reported in the press. Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC) has seen and treated at least 195 patients with acid burns since 1998, and some of the characteristics of the individual circumstances and the surgical care are discussed.