Burns Flashcards
What is the first aproach to managing a patient presenting with burns?
Immediate first aid - ABC, remove person from source
What is the immediate management of a patient presenting with burns caused by heat?
- remove person from the source
- within 20 minutes of the injury, irrigate the burn with cool (not iced) water for 10-30 minutes
- cover burn using clin film - layered rather than wrapped around a limb
Within what time and for how long should a burn caused by heat be irrigated?
within 20 minutes of the injury
for between 10-30 minutes
How should you cover a burn caused by heat?
with cling film, layered rather than wrapped around a limb
What is the immediate first aid for an electrical burn?
switch off power supply, remove the person from the source
What is the immediate management of chemical burns?
brush any powder off then irrigate with water. Attempts to neutralise the chemical are not recommended
What is a useful rule to initially assess the extent of a burn?
Wallace’s rule of Nines
What are 8 aspects to Wallace’s rule of nines to assess the extent of a burn?
- head + neck = 9%
- each arm = 9%
- each anterior part of leg = 9%
- each posterior part of leg = 9%
- anterior chest = 9%
- posterior chest = 9%
- anterior abdomen = 9%
- posterior abdomen = 9%
What is the most accurate method for assessing the extent of a burn?
Lund and Browder chart
What proportion of the total body surface area is the palmar surface?
1%
What are the 4 classes of depth of burn? (modern and former terminology)
- Superficial epidermal (first degree)
- Partial thickness (superficial dermal) (second degree)
- Partial thickness (deep dermal) (second degree)
- Full thickness (third degree)
What will the appearance of a superficial epidermal (first degree) burn be?
Red and painful
What is the appearance of a partial thickness - superficial dermal (second degree) burn?
pale pink, painful, blistered
What is the appearance of a partial thickness - deep dermal (second degree) burn?
typically white, may have patches of non-blanching erythema. Reduced sensation
What is the appearance of a full-thickness (third degree) burn?
white/brown/black in colour, no blisters, no pain
What are 6 situations when you should refer burns to secondary care?
- All deep dermal and full-thickness burns
- Superficial dermal burns of more than 3% TBSA in adults, or more than 2% TBSA in children
- Superficial dermal burns involving the face, hands, feet, perineum, genitalia, or any flexure, or circumferential burns of the limbs, torso or neck
- any inhalation injury
- any electrical or chemical burn injury
- suspicion of non-accidental injury
What are the 2 situations when you should refer superficial dermal burns to secondary care?
- >3% TBSA in adults or >2% in children
- involving face, hands, feet, perineum, genitalia, or any flexure, or circumferential burns of the limbs, torso or neck
What is the management of superficial epidermal burns in primary care?
symptomatic relief - analgesia, emollients
What is the initial management of superficial dermal burns in primary care? 5 aspects
- cleanse wound
- leave blister intact
- non-adherent dressing
- avoid topical creams,
- review in 24h
After what time period should you review a superficial dermal burn in primary care?
24h
What is the pathophysiology following severe burns, locally at the site of the burn?
local response with progressive tissue loss and release of inflammatory cytokines
What is the systemic response to severe burns pathophysiologically?
- cardiovascular effects from fluid loss and sequestration of fluid into the third space
- marked catabolic response
- immunosuppression common with large burns
What effect is a recognised event in the gut following severe burns?
translocation of bacteria from gut lumen
What is a common cause of death following major burns?
sepsis