Thermal trauma Flashcards
How to stop the burning process with chemicals
Remove all clothing (except if adherent)
Brush dry chemical away
Rinse with copious amounts of warm (to avoid hypothermia) saline irrigation
Once the burning process has stopped, cover pt with warm, clean dry linens to prevent hypothermia
Child vs adult airway susceptibility post burns
Children more susceptible as their airway is smaller
Indications for early intubation for burns
Signs of airway obstruction or respiratory distress
TBSA >40%-50%
Oedema
Deep fascial burns or mouth burns
Difficulty swallowing
Reduced GCS
What carboxyhaemoglobin level indicates inhalation injury
more than 10%
Diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning
Hx of exposure (pt who were burned in enclosed areas)
Raised serum carboxyhaemoglobin
At what carboxyhaemoglobin level do patients express physical sx
> 20%
Various HbCO levels and their associated presentations
Headache + nausea (HbCO level of 20%-30%)
Confusion (HbCO level of 30%-40%)
Coma (HbCO level of 40-60%)
Death (HbCO level of >60%)
The affinity of Hb for O2 vs CO
CO has an affinity of 240 times more than O2
Oxygen therapy in possible CO exposure
Breathing 100% O2 reduces the HbCO from 4 hrs to 40 mins,
Apply 100% O2 for 4-6 hrs unless COPD
ET tube minimum size in children and adults
Pulse oximetry in CO poisoning
Not reliable, may be showing readings between 98 and 100%
PaO2 from ABG’s reliability in CO poisoning
Does not reliably predict CO poisoning
PaCO of 1mmHg results in HbCO of 40%
Need HbCO levels taken as well as ABG and pulse oximetry
Sign of cyanide inhalation
a product of combustion
could lead to unexplained persistent metabolic acidosis
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for burns
No role in acute trauma
Consult burn centre for further guidance after pt resuscitated
Pathophysiology of smoke inhalation
Smoke particles settle into distal bronchioles, causing SIRS, leading to necrotic cells obstructing airways
Treatment of smoke inhalation
Supportive
(intubate if >20% of TBSA in adults or >10% in <10yo or >50yo)
Cannulation in burns
2 large bore cannulas (at least 18 gauge)
Try avoiding burned skin if possible
Upper limb preferred to lower limb as increased risk of septic phlebitis in lower limb
Fluid resuscitation calculation in adult scalding burns patients
24hour fluid volume requirement: 2ml * TBSA * Wt
The first half should be given over 8 hours
The second half is given over 16hrs
Urine output aim for adult scalding burns patients
0.5 ml/kg/hr
between 30-50mls per hr
Fluid resuscitation calculation in child burns patients
3ml/kg/%TBSA (as children have a larger surface area:body mass)
Urine output aim for child burns patients
1ml/kg/hr
Fluid resuscitation calculation in infant and young child (<30kg) burns patients
3ml/kg/TBSA
Plus 5% dextrose in addition