Burns Flashcards
Different types of burns
Chemical
Electrical
Thermal/Heat (Flame or Scald)
Inhalational
Chemical
Commonly occur in laboratory or industrial setting
Noxious chemical contact the skin
Chemical must be removed or neutralized to stop injury
Remove contaminated clothing, neutralize or dilute with water
Chemical burns are uncommon in children
Electrical
Extent of injury depends on the voltage and duration of contact
Extent is difficult to predict by inspection
Dysrhythmias are common
Low voltage <1000V local contact burn
High voltage >1000V entrance and exit wound
Damage to bones, blood vessels, muscles, and nerves
Myoglobinuria can lead to renal failure, affects the renal tubular function
Thermal
Commonly occur in and around the home
70% of burns by children up to the age 4 are scald injuries
Flame burns are most common for children 5 years and older
Inhalational
Associated with thermal burns
Suspected and aggressively ruled out. Warning signs; singed nasal hair horse voice, productive (soot) cough, stridor, facial burns, breathed fire, and voice change.
Three types:
Upper airway injuries; thermal injury to the mouth larynx and oropharynx
Lower airway injuries; trachea lower bronchioles and alveoli
Metabolic Asphyxiation; carbon monoxide or hydrogen cyanide impair O2 delivery
Cyanide Poisoning
Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) is produced by burning plastic, foam, paint, wool, and silk.
Cyanide poisoning blocks the intercellular use of oxygen causing hypoxia and lactic acidosis
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: LOC, dilated pupils, seizures, hypotension, and high lactate levels
Rx: Vitamin B12 binds cyanide and is directly excreted in the urine
Stabilization of cardiopulmonary status improves hepatic clearance
Nitroprusside and Cyanide Poisoning
Seen with chronic administration (more than 72 hours) particularly with faster than 2mcg/kg/min, cyanide is produced faster than can be eliminated
NTP is a direct acting vasodilator, that acts by releasing NO
Rapid onset (within seconds) and rapid duration (1-3 minutes)
Reduces afterload and preload
Contains 5 cyanide ions within its chemical structure and its metabolism by plasma hemoglobin causes the release of these cyanide ions
chemical structure of sodium nitroprusside
Tx for nitroprusside induced cyanide poisoning
Discontinue infusion
Administer oxygen, treat metabolic acidosis
Sodium nitrate 3%, 4-6mg/kg over 3-5 minutes: promotes the production of methemoglobin so that excess cyanide ions can be bound
Sodium thiosulphate 150-200mg/kg over 15 minutes (every 2 hours as needed)
Other drugs uses: Hydroxocobalamin and Methylene Blue 1-2mg/kg may be useful
CO binds with hemoglobin with an affinity _________
200 times that of O2
CO shifts the oxyhemoglobin curve to the ____
LEFT
Clinical findings and treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning
Metabolic acidosis is the result of poor O2 delivery and poor utilization
Blood becomes cherry red
SaO2 is not accurate (false high reading)
Treatment with 100% FIO2 or hyperbaric oxygen
Symptoms of CO poisoning related to percentage in the blood
< 10%: none
10-20%: slight headache
21-30%: headache, slight increase in RR, drowsiness
31-40%: headache, impaired judgment, SOB, increasing drowsiness, blurred vision
41-50%: Pounding HA, confusion, marked SOB, marked drowsiness, increased blurred vision
> 51%: Unconsciousness, eventual death if victim is not removed from source of CO
1st degree burn
Involves epidermis
Superficial partial thickness 2nd degree burn
Involves epidermis and superficial dermis
Deep partial thickness 2nd degree burn
Involves epidermis and deep reticular dermis
3rd degree burn AKA ___
Full thickness
Involves epidermis and entire dermis
4th degree burn
Involving underlying structure (subcutaneous fat, muscle, bone)
How do we assess burn percentage?
Rule of 9s
What is a major burn?
Full thickness burn injuries > 10% TBSA
Partial thickness burn injuries >20% TBSA in extremes of age,
>25% TBSA in adults
Burns involving- face, hands, feet, genitalia, perineum, major joints
Inhalational injuries
Chemical burn injuries
Electrical burn injuries
Burn injuries in a patient with co-existing medical disease
Burns associated with trauma