[High voltage electrical burns as a risk factor for mortality among burn patients]. / La quemadura eléctrica por alto voltaje es un factor predictor de mortalidad en pacientes "grandes quemados"

BACKGROUND: Electrical burns are associated with complications and may aggravate burned patients. AIM: To evaluate the effect of electrical burns in mortality and length of stay in a critical care unit for burn patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of medical records of 182 patients aged 15 to 90 years, admitted to an intensive care unit for burn patients. The length of stay and mortality of 14 patients that suffered electric burns was compared with the features of 168 patients with other type of burns. RESULTS: Patients with electrical burns were younger, had a lower percentage of total body surface burnt and had a lower frequency of inhalatory injuries than their counterparts with other type of burns. Mortality rate among patients with electric or other types of burns was similar (three and 49 patients, respectively). Intensive care unit stay was also similar. A multivariate analysis showed that high voltage electric burns were an independent risk factor for death with an odds ratio of 12 (95% confidence intervals 1.8-79.4). CONCLUSIONS: High voltage electric burns are an independent risk factor for death among burn patients.