Management of Patients with Burn Injury Flashcards
Risk Factors to patients with burn injuries
Pre-existing heart, lung, and kidney diseases
DM
Peripheral vascular diseases
Physical weaknesses like alcoholism, malnutrition
Concurrent fractures
Head injuries
Goals of Burn Care
Lifesaving measures
Prevention of disability and disfigurement
Rehabilitation
First degree burns AKA
superficial
Second degree burns AKA
partial thickness
Third degree burns AKA
full thickness
Classification of burn that involves outermost layer of skin and stays intact. It is painful.
First degree
Classification of burn that involves entire epidermis and varying portions of the dermis. Painful with blisters
2nd degree
Classification of burn that involves destruction of epidermis, dermis, and underlying tissue Painless.
3rd degree
Classification of burn that involves necrosis of tissue extending into deep tissue, muscle, or bone.
4th degree
Types of burns
Thermal
Chemical
Electrical
Thermal burns can be caused by
flame, flash, scald, or contact with hot objects
What is the most common type of burn?
Thermal
The severity of a thermal burn depends on what factors?
Temperature of the burning agent
Duration of contact time
Chemical burns can result in injuries to?
skin, eyes, respiratory system, liver and kidneys
What MUST be done with every patient who has an electrical burn?
Stabilize C spine
Patients with an electrical burn are at risk for?
Dysrhythmias or MI
Myoglobinuria
Why does myoglobinuria happen in patients with an electrical burn?
Injured muscle tissues release myoglobin which travels to the kidneys and blocks the renal tubules
Electrical burns are known to cause what phenomena?
Iceberg effect
Myoglobinuria can lead to?
Acute tubular necrosis
Acute kidney injury
Factors to consider in determining burn depth
How the injury occurred
Causative agent
Temperature of causative agent
Duration of contact w causative agent
Thickness of skin at site of injury
Clues of smoke inhalation injury to lower airway
Facial burns
Singed nasal hair
Hoarseness
Painful swallowing
Dark mucosal membranes
Carbonaceous sputum**
Enclosed space
Clothing burns around neck and chest
What is the cardinal sign of a lower airway injury?
Carbonaceous sputum
What is carbonaceous sputum?
Dark colored sputum
3 Zones of Burn Injury
Zone of coagulation
Zone of stasis
Zone of hyperemia
Which zone of burn injury has the most damage?
Coagulation