Week 8 - Burns Flashcards
why is skin integrity important
- first line of defense for the body
- acts as a barrier from the external elements, bacteria, and viruses
= impairement of skin integrity = body vulnerable to hosts of potential complications & infection
what are some functions of the skin (3)
- thermoregulates
- helps regulate fluid & electrolyte balance
- communicates w brain thru nerves to identify sensory factors like pain & temp
what are 5 types of burns
- thermal
- chemical
- electrical
- smoke & inhalation
- cold thermal
what are thermal burns
- burns caused by flame, flash fire, scalding, or contact w hot objects
- most common type of burn injury*
what are chemical burns
- burns result from tissue injury & destruction from acids, alkali, and organic compounds
chemical burns can effect.. (2)
- the skin
- eyes
what are some examples of causes of chemical burns (4)
- household cleaners
- phenols
- heavy infustrial cleaners
- fertilizers
are alkali or acid burns more difficult to manage? why?
- alkali
- they are not neutralized by tissue fluids as readily as are acid substanced
what are smoke & inhalation burns/injuries
- damage to tissue of the resp tract (usually resp mucosa) d/t inhalation of hot air or noxious chemicals
smoke & inhalation injury leads to (2)
- redness
- airway swelling
= major predictor of mortality in burn injured patients
what is imp regarding smoke & inhalation injury
- rapid assessment (d/t major predictor of mortality)
what are electrical burns
- result of intense heat generated from an electric current
all pts with electrical burns should be considered at risk for ..
- potential cervical spine injury (contact w electrical current can cause muscle contractions strong enough to cause fractures of long bone & vertebrae)
electrical burns put the pt at risk of (5)
- dysrhytmias
- cardiac arrest
- severe metabolic acidosis
- myoglobinuria –> ATN
- vfib
what are examples of causes of electrical burns (3)
- powerlines
- lightning
- faulty electrical in houses
what is an example of a cold thermal injury
- frostbite
treatment of burns is related to
- severity of injury
severity of injury d/t burns is related to (4)
- depth of burn
- extent of burn calculated in percentage of total body surface area
- location of burn
- pt risk factors
what is a superficial burn
- 1st degree
- burn that causes damage to the epidermis
describe the clinical appearance of a superficial burn (7)
- erythema
- blanching w pressure
- pain
- no or mild swelling
- no vesicles or blisters
- dry
- hot
describe the impact of a superficial burn on tactile and pain sensation
- still intact
what are 2 examples of causes of superficial burns
- superficial sun burn
- quick heat flash
what is a deep partial thickness burn
- 2nd degree
- involves the epidermis and dermis to varying depths
describe the clinical appearance of a partial thickness burn (6)
- shiny
- wet
- fluid-filled vesicles
- severe pain
- mild to mod edema
- shades of pink, red, white
what are possible causes of deep partial thickness burns (6)
- flame
- contact burns
- chemical burns
- scalding
- tar
- electrical current
what is a full thickness burn
- 3rd & 4th degree
- all skin layers and corresponding nerve endings are destroyed
describe clinical appearance of a full thickness burn (6)
- dry
- waxy white
- leathery or hard skin
- insensitivity to pain
- possible involvement of muscles, tendons, and bone
- coagulation necrosis
what are some examples of causes of a full thickness burn (5)
- flame
- scalding
- chemical
- tar
- electric current
what is required for healing w a full thickness burn
- surgical intervention
skin reproducing (re-epithelializing) cells are located where? what implication does this have
- throughout the dermis & along shafts of hair follicles & sebaceous glands
= if signif damage to dermis, not enough skin cells remain to regenerate new skin = permanent, alternative source of skin needed
what may be required for treatment of a partial thickness burn
- skin grafting
what are 2 commonly used guides for determing the extent of a burn wound
- rule of nines chart
2. lund-browder chart
which of the 2 guides for determining extent of burn injury is more accurate and why
- lund-browder chart
- takes into consideration pts age, relative body-area size
describe the impacts of burns to the face, neck, and circumferential burns to the chest or back
- can result in mechanical obstruction d/t edema, compartment syndrome, or leathery, devitalized tissue (eschar)
= may inhibit resp function - include possible inhalation injury & resp mucosal damage
describe the impacts of burns to the face, neck, and circumferential burns to the chest or back
- can result in mechanical obstruction d/t edema, compartment syndrome, or leathery, devitalized tissue (eschar)
= may inhibit resp function - include possible inhalation injury & resp mucosal damage
what is imp with burns to the face, neck, and chest (2)
- frequent resp assement
- anticipate potential airway complications
describe the impacts of burns to the hands, feet, joints, and eyes (4)
- limit self care & functional abilities
- can impact employment, social options
- require significant adaptation to regular life
- hands & feet challenging d/t superficial vascular & nerve systems & need to maintain their function during healing
what is imp w burns of the hands, feet, joints, and eyes
- emotional supports
describe the impact of burns to the ears and nose
- v susceptible to infection d/t poor blood supply to the cartilage
describe the impact of burns to the buttocks and perineum
- highly susceptible to infection d/t potential to be soiled by bodily fluids
describe the impact of circumferential burns to the extremities (2)
- can cause circulatory compromise distal to the burn (d/t edema, inelasticity of eschar = compartment syndrome)
- can cause neuro impairement to affected extremitity
describe the impact of circumferential burns to the chest (2)
- impact movement of chest wall
- r/o inhalation
what are risk factors that impact recovery from burns (4)
- age
- medical history
- lifestyle
- other injuries
describe the impact on age on healing from a burn injury (2)
- older adult heals more slowly and experiences more difficulty w rehab
- v. young and v. old have higher risk of morbidity and mortality
describe the impact that med history has on healing from burn injury (2)
- history of CVS, resp, or renal disease = poorer prognosis r/t high demands on body
- DM and peripheral vasc disease = high risk of poor healing & gangrene (esp. w foot and leg burns)
describe the impact that lifestyle has on healing from burns (3)
- alcoholism
- drug abuse
- malnutrition
= less physiologicall able to recover from burn injury
describe the impact that other injuries have on healing from burns
- factures
- head injuries
- and other trauma
= poorer prognosis for recovery
what is an escharotomy
- procedure performed by a surgeon
- surgical incision through the eschar to release the constriction, thereby restoring distal circulation and allowing for adequate ventilation
when is an escharomty performed
- within first 2-6 hr of burn injury
how does an escharomty differ from a fasciotomy
- fasciotomy = incision to decomp tissue compartment
- escharotomy does not breach deep fascia layer
- same purpose, diff layer of tissue
what are S&S of inhalation injury (4)
- initially = no symptoms
- may see soot on face and around mouth
- singed hair
- over time: SOB, wheezing, hoarseness
what is imp to identify inhalation injury
- resp assessment (RR, auscultate, O2 sats)
describe nursing care for a partial & full thickness burn to the face (2)
(high potential for resp complications d/t edema)
- likely high rates of O2 (10L)
- up in high fowlers (unless spinal contraindications)
why is it imp that a pt with a partial & full thickness burn to the face is in high fowlers position
- encourages optimal lung expansion and airway opening
describe the impact of facial burns involving the lips & mouth (4)
- causes swallowing difficulty
- severe edema d/t patho response & aggressive fluid replacement
- may be hoarse
- stridor, wheezing
what might be indicated w facial burns involving the lips & mouth
- intubation thru nares (uncommon, but may not be able to intubate thru mouth d/t signif edema)
what are the 3 phases of burn management
- emergent (resuscitative, hypovolemic)
- acute (wound healing, diuresis)
- rehab (restorative)
describe the care in the phases of burn mngmt
- the care overlaps from one stage to another
ex. emergent phase is seen as beginning in the ED, care often beging at the scene
ex. planning for rehab begins on the day of the burn injury or admission to burn unit
ex. wound care is primary focus in acute phase, but also takes place in the emergent and rehab phase
describe what is included in prehospital care for burn injuries (5)
- priority = remove from source of burn & stop burn process
- if small, cooling of injured area thru use of clean, cool, tap water-dampened towel
- if large (>10% TBSA), focus on ABCs
- remove as much burned clothing as possible
- wrap pt on dry, clean sheet or blanket for warmth and pevent contamination
what is included in assessment of airway for burn injuries (4)
- check for patency
- assess for soot around nares, on tongue
- assess for singed nasal hair
- assess for darkened oral or nasal membranes
what is included in assessment of breathing for burn injuries
- check for adequacy of ventilation
what is included in assessment of circulation for burn injuries (2)
- check for presence and regularity of pulses
- elevate burned limb above lvl of heart to decrease pain & swelling
to prevent hypothermia, large burns should be cooled for no more than?
- 10 min
what are imp considerations when cooling off a burn injury (2)
- do not immerse in cool water
- do not cover w ice
what is the emergent phase of burn mngmt
- the period of time required to resolve the immediate, life threatening problems resulting from the injury
how long does the emergent phase last
- up to 72 hrs from time of the burn (textbook)
- first 24-48 hrs (study guide posted on UM Learn)
what are the primary concerns during the emergent phase of burn mngmt (2)
- onset of hypovolemic shock
- formation of edema –> airway
at what point does the emergent phase end
- w fluid mobilization and diuresis
what 2 events occur during the emergent phase
- increased capillary permeability = massive fluid shifts = fluid out of blood vessels into interstitial spaces = edema & hypovolemia
- immmunological changes = risk of infection
the greatest initial threat to a pt with a major burn is ____. why?
- hypovolemic shock
- d/t massive shift of fluids, Na, and plasma proteins (albumin) out of blood vessels into intersitital spaces and surround tissues (3rd spacing) d/t increased capillary permeability
what are hallmark signs seen during the emergent phase of burn mngnmt (9)
- low urine output w high specific gravity (concentrated)
- weight gain
- edema
- positive fluid balance (fluid gain greater than fluid loss)
- low BP
- tachycardia
- pain (superficial to partial thickness)
- blisters filled w fluid & protein (partial)
- adynamic ileus (absent or decreased BS d/t trauma)
what fluid & electrolyte changes occur during the emergent phase of burn mgnmt (5)
- hypovolemia
- hyponatremia (shifts into interstitial space)
- hyperkalemia (injured cells and hemolyzed RBCs release K)
- hypoproteinemia
- high hematocrit (d/t hemoconcentration d/t fluid loss)
what complications can occur during the emergent phase of burn injuries(6)
- hypovolemic shock
- airway distress
- impaired circulation
- acute renal failure
- dysrhytmias
- adynamic ileus
impaired circulation during the emergent phase can lead to (4)
- ischemia
- parasthesias
- necrosis
- gangrene
what can be done to restore circulation to the extremities
- escharotomy
what can be done to restore circulation to the extremities
- escharotomy
how can burns cause airway distress (4)
- upper airway burns = edema and obstruction of airway
- burns to neck and chest = inelastic eschar = resp difficulty
- inhalation of fumes or smoke = interstitial edema = prevents diffusion of O2 from the alveoli into the circulatory system
- risk of pneumonia
how can burns cause acute renal failure & ATN (2)
- hypovolemia = decreased blood flow to kidneys = renal ischemia
- release of myoglobin and hemoglobin with full thickness and electrical burns = occlude renal tubules
how can burns can adynamic ileus (3)
- d/t shunting and decreased perfusion
- response to massive trauma
- potassium shifts
pre-existing heart disease or lung disease can causes what complication during the emergent phase of burn mngmt
- heart failure or pulmonary edema (d/t fluid replacement)
what are the priority nursing diagnoses during the emergent phase of burn mngmt (6)
- ineffective airway clearance
- fluid volume deficit d/t cap leak
- impaired tissue perfusion
- altered comfort, pain, and anxiety
- risk for infection
- altered nutrition
what is included in collab care during the emergency phase (13)
- ABCs
- airway mngmt
- fluid therapy
- wound care
- drug therapy
- nutritional therapy
- remove clothing so doesnt stick to burned skin
- eye exam for face burns
- elevate burnt area
- hourly urine outputs
- monitor fluid & E
- physio –> ROM
- emotional support
why is early endotracheal intubation imp during the emergent phase
- once edema sets in might not be possible
- eliminates the necessity for emergency tracheostomy after resp problems become apparent
what is included in airway mngmt during the emergent phase (13)
- resp & chest assessment
- early endotracheal (preferably orotracheal)–> within 1-2 hrs after injury
- ventilatory assistance
- ABGs –> determine O2 conc
- escharomoties of chest wall (if resp distress d/t circumferential, full thickness burns of neck and trunk)
- chest xray
- bronchoscopy
- high fowler’s
- DB&C
- turn q1-2 h
- chest physio
- suctioning as needed
- bronchodilators
- positive end expiratory pressure