Burn Flashcards
What if the inflammatory process? (6)
- Pain
- Increased blood flow
- Release of vasoactive substances
- Increased capillary permeability
- Fluids shifts form the vascular to interstitium
- Edema
What is the complications of fluids loss that burn patients are at risk for? (4)
- Edema
- Hypovolemic shock
- Hypovolemia
- Continued pain
These can result in organ and tissue damage
How are burns classified? (3)
- Etiology
- Depth of tissue damage
- Total body surface area (TBSA) involved, severity
What is the etiology of burns? (5)
- Thermal: exposure to heat like flame, steam, scald, and inhalation of heated gases
- Chemical such as alkaline, acidic and organic agents
- Electrical: r/t voltage, lightning
- Radiation: radiation therapy or industrial exposure like nuclear platens
- Condition that cause loss of skin/epidermal cells
What is a verified burn center?
Prevent, education, teach, research, care for burn pt and rehab
What is the role of the skin? (6)
Protective barrier Sensation Water balance Temperature regulation Vitamin production Cosmetic
What is a superficial burn?
1st degree
Only to the thin epidermis layer
What is a partial thickness burn?
1st degree
Burn into minimal layers of the dermis
What is a deep partial thickness burn?
2nd degree
All the way through the dermis
What is a full thickness burn?
3rd and 4th degree burn
Dermis and epidermis are gone
All the way down to the subcutaneous layer
Can involve fat, muscles and bone
What do hair tell you about a burn?
If you tug on the hair and it comes right out them you know that the burn if as deep as the hair follicle
What if the sweat glands are destroyed by the burn?
Then the body will not be able to thermoregulate
How long does it take to determine how deep a burn is?
24 hours
What is the most common cause of a superficial burn?
Sunburn
Minor scald
What are the s/s of a superficial burn?
- Mild erythema
- Hypersensitivity to things like water and air
- Blanches
- Painful
- Irritability and discomfort
How do you manage a superficial burn and how long does it take to heal?
- OTC relief gel or cream
- Oral hydration
- NSAIDs
- Diphenhydramine
- Moisturizer without alcohol or perfume
Heals in 3-5 days without any scarring
What are the s/s of a superficial-partial thickness burn?
- Blisters
- Erythema
- Shiny
- Wet
- Inflammed
- Mild ot moderate edema
- Pain d/t exposed nerve endings sensitive to touch and air
How long does it take a superficial partial thickness burn to heal? What if it is a large area of the body? Will to scar?
1-3 weeks
Large areas of the body (70%) might need a biological dressing because hard for body to tolerate it
Minimal to no scarring
What is a secondary injury that can occur with a superficial-partial thickness burn?
Without adequate perfusion, burn damage can extend further into the dermis and convert into a deep partial thickness burn
What is the goal of treatment for superficial-partial thickness burn?
Promote self healing
What is the management of a superficial-partial thickness burn?
- May need a graft or biological dressing
- Blisters more than 2 cm should be deroof
- Wound care thoroughly clean the wound then put on topical antimicrobial and non adherent dressing
- Hydration: IV if more than 20%
- Systemic antibiotics only if s/s of infection
- Teach s/s of infection
What are the s/s of a wound infection?
Delayed healing, increased pain, increased exudate, purulent exudate, redness, and swelling
Why do you want to use non-adherent dressings?
Don’t want to pull on the skin or pull any new skin cells off that are to grow
Which patients should be referred to the burn center?
- Patient with burn to peri area
- Patient with hand/finger burns and feet
- Any patient with a any kind of chemical burn
- Inhalation injury
- Burn to face or joints
- Circumferential burn
- Electrical burn
- Partial thickness burn > 20% TBSA
- Frostbite
- SJS
What are the s/s of a deep partial thickness burn?
- Hair follicle and sweat glands destroyed
- Less moist
- Decreased sensation and pain
- Light pink to cherry red
How do you manage a deep partial thickness burn?
- Systemic IV fluid support
- Pain management
- Increased nutritional needs
- May require skin graft or excision
- PT/OT right away especially if burn is on any joints
What are patients at risk for with a deep partial thickness burn? What helps prevent this?
At risk for conversion to a full thickness burn
To prevent this use systemic fluid support
What are the s/s of a full thickness burn?
- Non blanching (d/t no circulation left)
- Non tender b/c nerve damage
- Dry
- White, brown, or black
- Tough and leathery
- Waxy
- No blisters
How do you manage a full thickness burn?
- Do not heal on their own
- Systemic fluid support (IV x2)
- Nutritional support
- Requires excision and skin graft (b/c skin has nothing to grow back on)
- Functional support/positioning
What is an issue with a chest burn? What can you do to help?
No elasticity so chest wall can’t expand with inspiration
Need skin loosened up