Burn Injuries

Question 1

What are the three determinants of mortality for a burn injury?

Answer 1

-Extent of burn
-Age of patient
-Burn wound depth

Question 2

Which is the most common type of burn injury?

Answer 2

Scalds - 60% of children’s burns

Question 3

Outline the local effects of burns

Answer 3

• Fluid/electrolyte leak into ISS
• Vasodilation
• Pain
• Heat loss
• Loss of skin protection

Question 4

Outline the systemic effects of burns

Answer 4

• Hypovalaemia
• Decreased cardiac contractility
• Decreased peristalsis
• Decreased urine output
• Fluid shift
• Patient BP rises for circulation & maintain CO
• hypermeability of capillaries

Question 5

What is Lactated Ringer’s solution?

Answer 5

The best fluid to use for fluid resuscitation following a burn wound

Question 6

When should skin grafting be considered?

Answer 6

Not healed within 3 weeks (adults) or 2 weeks (children)

Question 7

Outline the management of burns by fluid resuscitation

Answer 7

Manage fluid resuscitation to ensure adequate tissue perfusion without causing fluid overload

• Fluid resuscitation time calculated from burn injury time and extent “Parklands Formula”

Question 8

What are the goals of IV therapy in a burns patient?

Answer 8

• Goal: Perfusing kidneys.
• Adequate kidney perfusion ensures sufficient urine output.
• Adjust IV fluid rate if necessary; do not administer diuretics.

Question 9

What are the 2 main factors in burns assessment?

Answer 9

1. Total surface area burnt (Wallace Rule of Nines)
2. Depth of burn (Superficial, Deep Dermal, Full Thickness)

Question 10

What are the 3 zones that burns have?

Answer 10

1. Zone of coagulative necrosis (closest to burn, rapid cell death)
2. Zone of stasis (decreased tissue perf, increased capillary permeability)
3. Zone of hyperaemia (increased tissue per, too much blood)