Defining Benchmarks in Pediatric Burn Care: Inception of the Pediatric Injury Quality Improvement Collaborative.

Pediatric burn care is highly variable nationwide. Standardized quality and performance benchmarks are needed for guiding performance improvement within pediatric burn centers. A network of pediatric burn centers was established to develop and evaluate pediatric-specific best practices. A multi-disciplinary team including pediatric surgeons, nurses, advanced practice providers, pediatric intensivists, rehabilitation staff, and child psychologists from five pediatric burn centers established a collaborative to share and compare performance improvement data, evaluate outcomes, and exchange best care practices. In December 2016, the Pediatric Injury Quality Improvement Collaborative (PIQIC) was established. PIQIC members chose quality improvement indicators, drafted and approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU), data use agreement (DUA) and charter, formalized the multidisciplinary membership, and established a steering committee. Since inception, PIQIC has conducted monthly teleconferences and biannual in-person or virtual group meetings. A centralized data repository has been established where data is collated and analyzed for benchmarking in a blinded fashion. PIQIC has shown the feasibility of multi-institutional data collection, implementation of performance improvement metrics, publication of research, and enhancement of aggregate and institution-specific pediatric burn care.

Early Palliative Care Consultation in the Burn Unit: A Quality Improvement Initiative to Increase Utilization.

Despite significant morbidity and mortality for major burns, palliative care consultation (PCC) is underutilized in this population. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a protocol using recommended "triggers" for PCC at a single academic burn center. This is a retrospective review of patient deaths over a 4-year period. The use of life-sustaining treatments, comfort care (de-escalation of one or more life-sustaining treatments), and do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR) orders were determined. The use of PCC was compared during periods before and after a protocol establishing recommended triggers for early (<72 hours of admission) PCC was instituted in 2019. A total of 33 patient deaths were reviewed. Most patients were male (n = 28, 85%) and median age was 62 years [IQR: 42-72]. Median-revised Baux score was 112 [IQR: 81-133]. Many patients had life-sustaining interventions such as intubation, dialysis, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, often prior to admission. Amongst patients who survived >24 hours, 67% (n = 14/21) had PCC. Frequency of PCC increased after protocol development, with 100% vs 36% of these patients having PCC before death (P = .004). However, even during the later period, less than half of patients had early PCC despite meeting criteria at admission. In conclusion, initiation of life-sustaining measures in severely injured burn patients occurs prior to or early during hospitalization. Thus, value-based early goals of care discussions are valuable to prevent interventions that do not align with patient values and assist with de-escalation of life-sustaining treatment. In this small sample, we found that while there was increasing use of PCC overall after developing a protocol of recommended triggers for consultation, many patients who met criteria at admission did not receive early PCC. Further research is needed to elucidate reasons why providers may be resistant to PCC.

Factors influencing the implementation of best practice in burn care in Western Australia.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to determine the factors which influence clinician behaviour and adherence to best practice when clinicians provide the initial care for paediatric burn patients admitted to a burns unit. BACKGROUND: Optimal initial care of burn patients influences morbidity and mortality. Non-burn specialist clinician adherence to best practice is influenced by previously unexplored factors. DESIGN: General inductive qualitative methods were used to explore factors which influenced clinicians providing acute pre-admission burn care for children in Western Australia. METHODS: Interviews of nineteen clinicians using standardised open-ended questions based on the Gilbert Behaviour Engineering Model were used to collect data. RESULTS: The main influencing factors identified were the telehealth service which supported practice, whilst IT issues provided challenges to clinicians. CONCLUSION: Telehealth services support clinicians when providing burn care, however IT issues are an major barrier to both best practice and accessing the telehealth service and should be optimised to support clinical care IMPACT STATEMENT: What does this paper contribute to the wider global community? It provides burn clinicians with an insight into the factors which facilitate optimal care for patients prior to transfer to burn units, as well as the barriers faced by non-burn specialist clinicians when patients initially present for care. Models of care which acknowledge these factors can help facilitate optimal patient care.

Development of a framework for managing severe burns through a 17-year retrospective analysis of burn epidemiology and outcomes.

Burns are one of the most common injuries in daily life for all ages of population. This study was to investigate the epidemiology and outcomes among burn patients in one of the largest burn centers in the southwest of China. The study was performed at the Institute of Burn Research in the first affiliated with the Army Medical University (AMU). A total of 17,939 burn patients were included in this retrospective study. Information regarding burn epidemiology and outcomes in 17 years were collected, calculated and compared. The age ranged from 257 days to 95 years old. Scalding and flame were the two most common causes to burn injuries, comprising of 91.96% in total. Limbs, head/face/neck, and trunk were the most frequently occurred burn sites, with the number and the percent of 12,324 (68.70%), 7989 (44.53%), and 7771 (43.32%), respectively. The average total body surface area (TBSA) was 13.64 ± 16.83% (median 8%) with a range of 0.1-100%. A total of 874 (4.9%) patients had TBSA > 50%. The presence of a burn with an inhalation injury was confirmed in 543 patients (3.03%). The average LOS was 32.11 ± 65.72 days (median: 17 days). Eventually, the retrospective analysis resulted in the development of a burn management continuum used for developing strategies to prevent and manage severe burns. The annual number of burn injuries has kept decreasing, which was partially attributed to the increased awareness and education of burn prevention and the improved burn-preventative circumstances. However, the burn severity and the economic burden were still in a high level. And the gender difference and age difference should be considered when making individualized interventions and rehabilitative treatments.

Burn Center Referral Practice Evaluation and Treatment Outcomes Comparison Among Verified, Nonverified Burn Centers, and Nonburn Centers: A Statewide Perspective.

The American Burn Association (ABA) has developed comprehensive referral criteria to determine which burn-injured patient should be transferred to burn centers. This was a retrospective analysis of burn injuries using Illinois inpatient and outpatient hospital data from 2010 to 2015. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were developed to evaluate ABA burn center referral criteria adherence and to compare treatment outcomes among those treated in verified burn center (VB), nonverified burn center (NVB), and other facilities (OF). In this study, 66% of those treated in facilities without specialized burn teams met the ABA referral criteria. Patients who were older than the age of 40 years, lived farther from burn units, and were originally treated in level I trauma center without burn units were less likely to be transferred to burn centers. Those transported and treated in burn centers had overall better treatment outcomes including fewer infection complications (VB vs OF: adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.4-0.6; NVB vs OF: aOR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.4-0.6), fewer patients requiring additional care in skilled nursing/rehabilitation facilities (VB vs OF: aOR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.4-0.6; NVB vs OF: aOR: 0.7, 95% CI: 0.6-0.9), shorter length of hospitalization (VB vs OF: ß: -0.4, P < .001; NVB vs OF: ß: -0.8, P < .001), and comparable in-hospital mortality (VB vs OF: aOR: 1.3, 95% CI: 0.97-1.7; NVB vs OF: aOR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.7-1.5). While verified and unverified burn centers demonstrated better treatment outcomes, the data demonstrated a need to understand the barriers of adhering to ABA criteria and an improved regional burn center referral guidelines education.

Recording Patient Data in Burn Unit Logbooks in Rwanda: Who and What Are We Missing?

Systematic data collection in high-income countries has demonstrated a decreasing burn morbidity and mortality, whereas lack of data from low- and middle-income countries hinders a global overview of burn epidemiology. In low- and middle-income countries, dedicated burn registries are few. Instead, burn data are often recorded in logbooks or as one variable in trauma registries, where incomplete or inconsistently recorded information is a known challenge. The University Teaching Hospital of Kigali hosts the only dedicated burn unit in Rwanda and has collected data on patients admitted for acute burn care in logbooks since 2005. This study aimed to assess the data registered between January 2005 and December 2019, to evaluate the extent of missing data, and to identify possible factors associated with "missingness." All data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test, and Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. In this study, 1093 acute burn patients were included and 64.2% of them had incomplete data. Data completeness improved significantly over time. The most commonly missing variables were whether the patient was referred from another facility and information regarding whether any surgical intervention was performed. Missing data on burn mechanism, burn degree, and surgical treatment were associated with in-hospital mortality. In conclusion, missing data is frequent for acute burn patients in Rwanda, although improvements have been seen over time. As Rwanda and other low- and middle-income countries strive to improve burn care, ensuring data completeness will be essential for the ability to accurately assess the quality of care, and hence improve it.

Healthcare-associated infections in burn patients: Timeline and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a major challenge in burn research and care. We aimed to describe the epidemiology and timeline of HAIs and to estimate the association of demographics and clinical characteristics with time to HAI among burn patients. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted in a referral burn unit in southwestern Colombia. Incidence rates were calculated for HAI types and microorganisms, using a Poisson regression model. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the effect of risk factors on time to first HAI. RESULTS: Of 165 burn patients, 46 (27.9%) developed at least one HAI (incidence rate of 21.8 per 1000 patient-days). The most frequent HAIs were burn wound infections, followed by bloodstream infections. The most common microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas spp., and Acinetobacter baumannii. Whereas gram-negative bacteria were the most common microorganisms causing HAIs, gram-positive bacteria were the first microorganisms isolated after hospital admission. The independent risk factors associated with time to first HAI were burn size (TBSA>20%), burn mechanism (flames and scalds), central venous catheter use, and mestizo race. CONCLUSION: These data have implications toward generating empirical antibiotic guidelines and preventive strategies targeting the patients at highest risk for HAI.

Suicídio por queimaduras em mulheres no Distrito Federal, Brasil, no período de 2010 a 2015 / Suicide by burns in women in the Federal District, midwest of Brazil, from 2010 to 2015

Introdução: O suicídio é um sério problema de saúde pública. Estima-se que para cada óbito existam 10 tentativas. Dentre os meios utilizados, as queimaduras têm destaque devido à gravidade das lesões, a alta taxa de letalidade e os grandes prejuízos funcionais, estéticos e psicológicos. As mulheres, por constituírem a maioria dos pacientes com história de tentativa de suicídio e morte por queimaduras, representam um grupo vulnerável que merece recorte para aprofundamento do estudo. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo, de caráter descritivo de série temporal. Foi desenvolvido na Unidade Tratamento de Queimados e no Instituto de Medicina Legal em Brasília (DF), entre os anos de 2010 e 2015. Resultados: Foram identificadas 42 mulheres com história de suicídio por queimaduras, tentado ou consumado. Houve 15 óbitos relacionados diretamente à lesão térmica. Houve um predomínio da faixa etária entre 30 e 44 anos, seguida por 15 a 29 anos. Em 64,3% dos casos o evento aconteceu no DF. Em relação aos agentes etiológicos, o mais comum foi o álcool (71,4%). A média de superfície corporal queimada foi de 34,38%, sendo que as pacientes que faleceram apresentaram áreas queimadas maiores (59,53%) do que as que sobreviveram (20,4%). Conclusão: Os dados obtidos no DF corroboram informações da literatura. Apesar do progresso envolvendo manejo e tratamento dos pacientes queimados, a prevenção continua sendo a melhor atitude.

Introduction: Suicide is a serious public health problem. For every death, there are an estimated 10 suicide attempts. Among the means of suicide, burns are prominent due to the lesion severity, the high mortality rate, and the severe functional, aesthetic, and psychological damage. Women comprise the majority of patients with a history of attempting suicide and death by burns and represent a vulnerable group that deserves attention. Methods: This retrospective descriptive time-series study was performed in the Burn Treatment Unit at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Brasília, Distrito Federal (DF) between 2010 and 2015. Results: A total of 42 women with a history of suicide by burns, attempted or consummated, were identified; 15 deaths were directly related to the thermal injury. Suicide by burns was the most predominant among patients aged 30 to 44 years was observed, followed by those aged 15 to 29 years. In 64.3% of cases, the event occurred in the Brasília, Distrito Federal (DF). Alcohol was the most common etiological agent (71.4%). The average burned body surface area was 34.38%, and the patients who died presented larger burned areas (59.53%) than that in those who survived (20.4%). Conclusion: The data obtained from the Brasília, Distrito Federal (DF) corroborate information from the literature. Despite progress involving the management and treatment of burn patients, prevention remains the best strategy.

[Chinese burn referral criteria (2018 version)].

There is no national referral criteria for burns in China till now, which brings inconvenience and confusion. Based on the oversea experiences and the actual situation in China, many famous experts in burns discussed and developed this Chinese burn referral criteria (2018 version). We hope these referral criteria will be helpful in clinical practice of burns and can be improved continuously through application.

[Chinese burn referral criteria (2018 version)].

There is no national referral criteria for burns in China till now, which brings inconvenience and confusion. Based on the oversea experiences and the actual situation in China, many famous experts on burns discussed and developed this Chinese burn referral criteria (2018 version). We hope these referral criteria will be helpful in clinical practice in burn field and can be improved continuously during application.

Epidemiologia dos pacientes vítimas de queimaduras internados no Serviço de Cirurgia Plástica e Queimados da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Santos / Epidemiology of burn cases hospitalized at the Plastic Surgery and Burns Service of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Santos, Brazil

Introdução: Queimaduras são caracterizadas por uma lesão da pele causada por um agente externo, que podem resultar em sequelas funcionais, estéticas, psicológicas e até mesmo a morte. O objetivo é traçar o perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes vítimas de queimaduras internados no Serviço de Cirurgia Plástica e Queimados da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Santos (SCPSCMS). Métodos: Foram analisados 589 casos de queimaduras internados no período de março de 2010 a março de 2015, no Serviço de Cirurgia Plástica e Queimados da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Santos. Resultados: 180 pacientes eram crianças (< 10 anos); 72 adolescentes; 287 adultos e 50 idosos. A maioria da amostra eram homens e o principal local de ocorrência o domicílio. As regiões afetadas mais frequentes foram a cabeça, face e pescoço, abdome, tórax e tronco, além dos membros superiores. Constatou-se como principais agentes causais a escaldadura (36,8%), seguida dos líquidos inflamáveis (18%), fogo (14,4%) e queimadura elétrica (10,5%). O tempo de internação foi em média 22 dias, contudo, 61% da amostra permaneceu internada por até 2 semanas e, apenas 4% foram a óbito. Conclusões: O estudo demonstrou que o perfil do paciente internado por queimadura no SCPSCMS é compatível com o descrito por outras unidades especializadas nesse tipo de tratamento. Ressalta-se a importância desse tipo de estudo para conhecer e intervir em fatores e comportamentos de risco para queimaduras.

Introduction: Burns are skin injuries caused by external agents and can result in functional, aesthetic, psychological, and fatal sequelae. The objective is to determine the epidemiological profile of burn cases hospitalized at the Plastic Surgery and Burns Service of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Santos (Serviço de Cirurgia Plástica e Queimados da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Santos-SCPQSCMS). Methods: A total of 589 burn cases hospitalized at SCPQSCMS from March 2010 to March 2015 were evaluated. Results: Of these, 180 were children (aged <10 years), 72 were adolescents, 287 were adults, and 50 were elderly. The majority of the study sample were men, and the primary place of occurrence was the home. The most commonly affected regions were the head, face and neck, abdomen, thorax and trunk, and upper limbs. Burns were mainly caused by scalding (36.8%), flammable liquids (18%), fire (14.4%), and electrical injuries (10.5%). The average hospitalization time was 22 days; however, 61% of the sample remained hospitalized for up to 2 weeks and 4% died. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the profile of patients hospitalized at SCPQSCMS was similar to that found in other units specializing in this type of treatment. Our results emphasize the importance of this type of study to understand and avoid risk factors and behaviors associated with burns.

Adherence to Referral Criteria at Admission and Patient Management at a Specialized Burns Centre: The Case of the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.

Referral guidelines for burn care are meant to assist in decision-making as regards patient transfer and admissions to specialized units. Little is known, however, concerning how closely they are followed and whether they are linked to patient care. This is the object of the current study, focused on the paediatric burns centre of the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. All patients admitted to the centre during the winters of 2011-2015 (n = 1165) were included. The patient files were scrutinized to clarify whether the referral criteria in place were identified (seven in total) and to compile data on patient and injury characteristics. A case was defined as adherent to the criteria when at least one criterion was fulfilled and adherence was expressed as a percentage with 95% confidence intervals, for all years aggregated as well as by year and by patient or injury characteristics. The association between adherence to any individual criterion and hospital care (surgery or longer length of stay) was measured using logistic regressions. The overall adherence was 93.4% (100% among children under 2 years of age and 86% among the others) and it did not vary remarkably over time. The two criteria of "injury sustained at a specific anatomical site" (85.2%) and "young age" (51.9%) were those most often identified. Children aged 2 years or older were more likely to undergo surgery or to stay longer than those of young age (although a referral criterion) and so were those with higher injury severity (a referral criterion). In this specialized paediatric burns centre, children are admitted mainly according to the guidelines. However, given the high prevalence of paediatric burns in the region and the limited resources at the burns centre, adherence to the guidelines need to be further studied at all healthcare levels in the province.

Prescripción de ciprofloxacino por vía parenteral en pacientes ingresados en los servicios de Medicina Interna y Caumatología de un hospital general / Parenteral prescription of ciprofloxacin in patients admitted to the Internal Medicine and Caumatology services of a general hospital

Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo y transversal de 76 pacientes ingresados en los servicios de Medicina Interna y Caumatología del Hospital General Docente Dr Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso de Santiago de Cuba durante el 2012, para evaluar los conocimientos, el desempeño y la satisfacción de 22 profesionales que prescribieron ciprofloxacino por vía parental. Los conocimientos y la satisfacción fueron evaluados a través de un examen de conocimientos y una encuesta de satisfacción, respectivamente; el desempeño, a partir de la información obtenida de las historias clínicas, relacionadas con tres criterios: individualización del tratamiento, esquema terapéutico y combinaciones medicamentosas. Para cada criterio se establecieron indicadores y estándares. Los prescriptores presentaron conocimientos adecuados sobre el medicamento en cuestión; sin embargo, el desempeño y la satisfacción de estos resultaron inadecuados. Se considera necesario realizar una intervención en aras de revertir las deficiencias identificadas y contribuir a elevar la calidad de la prescripción de medicamentos en ambos servicios de salud

A descriptive, cross-sectional and observational study of 76 patients admitted to the Internal Medicine and Caumatology services of Dr Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso Teaching General Hospital was carried out in Santiago de Cuba during 2012, to evaluate the knowledge, performance and satisfaction of 22 professionals who prescribed parental ciprofloxacin. The knowledge and satisfaction were evaluated through a knowledge examination and a survey of satisfaction, respectively; the performance was evaluated, starting from the information obtained from the medical records, related to 3 criteria: individualization of the treatment, therapeutic schedule and medication combinations. For each opinion, indicators and standards were established. The prescribers presented appropriate knowledge on the specific medication; however, the performance and satisfaction of them were inadequate. It is necessary to carry out an intervention to revert the identified deficiencies and contribute to elevate the quality of the medications prescription in both health services

Assessing guidelines for burn referrals in a resource-constrained setting: Demographic and clinical factors associated with inter-facility transfer.

AIM: The aim was to assess demographic and clinical factors associated with inter-facility referrals for patients with burns in a resource-constrained setting. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional case review of patients presenting with a burn at the trauma unit at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (RXH) in Cape Town, South Africa. RESULTS: Six hundred and eleven-(71%) children were referred to the burns or the intensive care unit and 253 children were treated and discharged from the trauma unit. Of those admitted as inpatients 94% fulfilled at least one of the criteria for referral and 80% of those treated and discharged fulfilled the criteria for referral. CONCLUSIONS: Almost three out of four children evaluated at the trauma unit were referred to the burns unit for further management. However, a large number of patients were treated and discharged from the trauma unit despite being eligible for referral.

Recomendaciones de rehabilitación en el paciente quemado: revisión de literatura / Recomendações de reabilitação para paciente queimado: revisão da literatura / Rehabilitation recommendations in the burn patient: literature review

OBJETIVO: Realizar una revisión bibliográfica acerca de la rehabilitación en el paciente quemado, sintetizando las recomendaciones expuestas por los documentos de consenso internacionales y la bibliografía reciente. Además, exponemos la manera en que estas recomendaciones se han aplicado en la Unidad de Grandes Quemados del Hospital La Fe, en forma de un protocolo multidisciplinar de rehabilitación intensiva. MÉTODO: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica de la literatura existente y los consensos internacionales centrados en el ámbito de la rehabilitación en el paciente quemado. Seguidamente, se relata la forma en que estas recomendaciones fueron implementadas en la Unidad de Grandes Quemados del Hospital La Fe de Valencia; en forma de un protocolo de rehabilitación intensivo y multidisciplinar. RESULTADOS: La bibliografía revisada refuerza los argumentos en favor del desarrollo y aplicación de protocolos de rehabilitación intensiva en las unidades de quemados para la mejora de los resultados funcionales de los pacientes. La experiencia en nuestra unidad en la cual se aplica un protocolo de este tipo coincide con los buenos resultados reportados. CONCLUSIONES: La aplicación precoz de una terapia rehabilitadora intensiva resulta clave a la hora de prevenir y tratar las posibles complicaciones funcionales y secuelas producidas por las quemaduras. Este tratamiento rehabilitador interdisciplinar se ha de centrar en la prevención de problemas a largo plazo, como las contracturas, la cicatrización anómala, deformidades, atrofia muscular, limitación de movilidad y otros problemas que merman la función física. Su utilización en cualquier unidad de quemados, permitirá optimizar los resultados funcionales de nuestros pacientes.(AU)

Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão da literatura científica sobre a reabilitação do paciente queimado, resumindo as recomendações estabelecidas por documentos de consenso internacional e na literatura recente. Além disso, apresentamos como essas recomendações foram implementadas na Unidade de Grandes Queimados do Hospital La Fe, na forma de um protocolo de reabilitação intensivo multidisciplinar. Método: Pesquisa bibliográfica da literatura e do consenso internacional existente centrado no campo da reabilitação no paciente queimado. Foi relatado como as recomendações internacionais foram implementadas para a prática dentro da unidade para atendimento ao grande queimado, no Hospital La Fe, no formato de um protocolo de reabilitação intensivo multidisciplinar. Resultados: A literatura existente reforça o desenvolvimento e implementação de protocolos de reabilitação intensiva em unidades de queimados para melhorar os resultados funcionais dos pacientes. A experiência em nossa unidade, em que esse tipo de protocolo é aplicado, corresponde aos bons resultados descritos na literatura. Conclusões: A aplicação antecipada de terapia de reabilitação intensiva é fundamental para a prevenção e tratamento de complicações e possíveis consequências funcionais causadas por queimaduras. Este tratamento interdisciplinar de reabilitação tem de se concentrar na prevenção de problemas de longo prazo, tais como contraturas, cicatrizes anormais, deformidades, atrofia muscular, dificuldade de locomoção e outros problemas que prejudicam a função física. Seu uso em qualquer unidade de queimados irá otimizar os resultados funcionais dos nossos pacientes.(AU)

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: To perform a bibliographic review about rehabilitation of the burn patient, summarizing recommendations provided by international consensus documents and the most recent evidence. Moreover, we present the method in which this recommendations have been applied to the Great Burns Unit of the Hospital La Fe, in the format of a interdisciplinary intensive rehabilitation protocol. METHOD: A bibliographic search was performed among existent literature and international consensus documents focused on the field of burn patient rehabilitation. Following, the way in which this recommendations were applied at the Great Burns Unit of the Hospital La Fe of Valencia are presented in the shape of an intensive and multidisciplinar rehabilitation protocol. RESULTS: Reviewed bibliography supports the development and application of intensive rehabilitation protocols in burn units for the improvement of the functional results of their patients. The experience in our unit in which this sort of protocol is applied, matches the good results described in literature. CONCLUSIONS: Early intensive rehabilitation therapy is a key stone when it comes to prevention and treatment of functional complications. This interdisciplinary approach must focus in prevention of long term complications, such as contractures, abnormal scarring, deformities, muscular atrophy, mobility limitations and other issues which can decrease physical function. Its utilization in a Burn Unit, will help optimize functional results of their patients.(AU)

Systematic Reviews in Burns Care: Poor Quality and Getting Worse.

The objective of this article is to investigate adherence to reporting standards and methodological quality in systematic reviews on burns care published in peer-reviewed journals to determine their utility for guiding evidence-based burns care. PubMed, Embase, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports were searched from 2009. Any systematic review on any question on therapeutic interventions in burns care was eligible for inclusion. Critical appraisal and data extraction were performed using the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) checklist by two independent reviewers. The overall quality of the 44 included burns care systematic reviews was low, with an average methodological quality of 55% and an average compliance with reporting guidelines of 70%. Correlation analysis showed that adherence to reporting guidelines has been relatively stable, but methodological quality has deteriorated (r = -.32, P < .05). Cochrane reviews had lower citation rates than reviews published in other journals, whereas reviews that included meta-analyses had more citations. Quality did not have a significant effect on citation rate. Health professionals working in burns should be able to expect that systematic reviews published in their field are of a high standard. Unfortunately, this is not the case. To address this problem, established guidelines on the conduct and reporting of systematic reviews should be adhered to by researchers and editors.

Burn Rehabilitation Therapists Competency Tool-Version 2: An Expansion to Include Long-Term Rehabilitation and Outpatient Care.

The Burn Rehabilitation Therapist Competency Tool (BRTCT) was developed in 2011 to define core knowledge and skill sets that are central to the job performance of occupational and physical therapists working with burn patients during acute hospitalization and initial rehabilitation. It was the first national effort to provide standards that burn centers could use for the training and evaluation of a BRT performance. The American Burn Association Rehabilitation Committee recently expanded the tool to include long-term rehabilitation and outpatient care in order to more fully represent all of the stages of care in which patients with burn injury receive therapy. Thirty-six burn centers contributed competencies, 17 rehabilitation experts participated in a systematic Delphi questionnaire process, and eight representatives from seven additional burn centers validated the tool. The revised BRTCT, called the BRTCT-2, includes four new practice domains and 28 new competency statements. The expanded tool provides a common framework of standards for performance for occupational and physical therapists working with patients throughout the full spectrum of burn care.

Poor methodological quality and reporting standards of systematic reviews in burn care management.

The methodological and reporting quality of burn-specific systematic reviews has not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the methodological quality of systematic reviews in burn care management. Computerised searches were performed in Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE and The Cochrane Library through to February 2016 for systematic reviews relevant to burn care using medical subject and free-text terms such as 'burn', 'systematic review' or 'meta-analysis'. Additional studies were identified by hand-searching five discipline-specific journals. Two authors independently screened papers, extracted and evaluated methodological quality using the 11-item A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool and reporting quality using the 27-item Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Characteristics of systematic reviews associated with methodological and reporting quality were identified. Descriptive statistics and linear regression identified features associated with improved methodological quality. A total of 60 systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. Six of the 11 AMSTAR items reporting on 'a priori' design, duplicate study selection, grey literature, included/excluded studies, publication bias and conflict of interest were reported in less than 50% of the systematic reviews. Of the 27 items listed for PRISMA, 13 items reporting on introduction, methods, results and the discussion were addressed in less than 50% of systematic reviews. Multivariable analyses showed that systematic reviews associated with higher methodological or reporting quality incorporated a meta-analysis (AMSTAR regression coefficient 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1, 3.1; PRISMA regression coefficient 6·3; 95% CI: 3·8, 8·7) were published in the Cochrane library (AMSTAR regression coefficient 2·9; 95% CI: 1·6, 4·2; PRISMA regression coefficient 6·1; 95% CI: 3·1, 9·2) and included a randomised control trial (AMSTAR regression coefficient 1·4; 95%CI: 0·4, 2·4; PRISMA regression coefficient 3·4; 95% CI: 0·9, 5·8). The methodological and reporting quality of systematic reviews in burn care requires further improvement with stricter adherence by authors to the PRISMA checklist and AMSTAR tool.

The outcomes of becoming a pediatric burn center in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Burns are one of the most important causes of traumatic death in children worldwide. A pediatric burn center was established in our hospital in August 2009. The aim of this study was to compare patient profiles and data before and after the burn treatment center was established. METHODS: Burn patients were admitted to the pediatric surgery department between January 2005 and August 2009, and there was no intensive care service in this department. Intensive care service has been provided since August 2009 with the burn center established at our hospital. The 316 cases that were followed-up at the pediatric surgery department in the first period were identified as Group I and the 442 cases that were admitted to the burn center in the second period were identified as Group II. The data of the groups were then compared. RESULTS: Mean age of the cases was 5.1 years in Group I and 7.7 years in Group II. The total mean body burn percentage was 16.12% in Group I and 17.54% in Group II. Although scalding burns were the most subtype in both groups, flame burns were 2.13 times, electrical burns 3.44 times, flame+inhalation burns 8.33 times, and burns with an over 40% total burn surface area were 2.41 times more common in Group II than in Group I. The mortality rates were 0% in Group I and 2.26% in Group II. CONCLUSION: Converting to a normal department admitting burn patients in a burn unit format to an actual burn center means more severe cases will be admitted. This requires a patient and attentive process while the burn team struggles with the new patient profile on one hand and has to learn how to overcome with less personal trauma the loss of patients, a feeling it is unfamiliar with, on the other, which is also an actual training process for the entire burn team.

Guía clínica manejo del paciente gran quemado

Contribuir a disminuir la mortalidad y las secuelas de los pacientes grandes quemados y a mejorar su calidad de vida de manera de lograr el reintegro psicosocial.