Burn Chart Research Articles

A 1% TBSA Chart Reduces Math Errors While Retaining Acceptable First-Estimate Accuracy.

Life-threatening and treatment-altering errors occur in estimates of the percentage of total body surface area burned (%TBSA burned) with unacceptable frequency. In response, numerous attempts have been made to improve the charts commonly used for %TBSA-burned estimation. Recent research shows that the largest errors in %TBSA-burned estimates probably come from sources other than inaccurate values in the charts. Here, we develop a taxonomy of the possible sources of error and their impact on %TBSA-burned estimates. Also, we observe that different caregivers have different estimation needs: First-responders require a rapid estimate with sufficient accuracy to enable them to begin care and determine patient transport options, while burn surgeons ordering skin grafts desire accuracy to the square centimeter, and can afford considerable time to attain that accuracy. These competing needs suggest that a one-tool-fits-all-caregivers approach is suboptimal. We therefore present a validated, simplified burn chart that minimizes one of the largest sources of random errors in %TBSA-burned estimates—simple calculation errors—while also being quick and requiring little training. NCHart-1 also enables simple consensus estimates, as well as separation of estimation subtasks across caregivers, leading to several potential improvements in mass casualty situations. Our results demonstrate that NCHart-1 possesses the accuracy necessary for first responders, while reliably producing results in less than 2 minutes. Of 76 healthcare professionals surveyed, a large majority indicated a preference for NCHart-1 over their previous methods for ease of both use and training. For clinical or commercial use of NCHart-1, please contact: tech.commercialization@nationwidechildrens.org

Decontamination effectiveness and the necessity of innovation in a large-scale disaster simulation.

Chemical, biological, radiologic, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) events threaten the health and integrity of human populations across the globe. Effective decontamination is a central component of CBRNE disaster response. This paper provides an objective determination of wet decontamination effectiveness through the use of a liquid-based contaminant proxy and describes the mobilization and adaptation of easily available materials for the needs of decontamination in pediatric victims. In this in-situ disaster simulation conducted at a pediatric hospital, decontamination effectiveness was determined through a liquid-based contaminant proxy, and standard burn charts to systematically estimate affected total body surface area (TBSA) in 39 adult simulated patients. Two independent raters evaluated TBSA covered by the contaminant before and after decontamination. On average, simulated patients had 59 percent (95 percent CI [53, 65]) of their TBSA covered by the simulated contaminant prior to decontamination. Following a wet decontamination protocol, the average reduction in TBSA contamination was 81 percent (95 percent CI [74, 88]). There was high inter-rater reliability for TBSA assessment (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.83, 95 percent CI [0.68, 0.92]. A modified infant bath was tested during the simulated decontamination of infant mannequins and thereafter integrated to the local protocol. Wet decontamination can remove more than 80 percent of the initial contaminant found on adult simulated patients. The use of a liquid-based visual tool as a contaminant proxy enables the inexpensive evaluation of decontamination performance in a simulated setting. This paper also describes an innovative, low-cost adaptation of a local decontamination protocol to better meet pediatric needs.

The value of a bariatric specific chart to initiate resuscitation of adult bariatric burns

IntroductionThe prevalence of obese adults is rising across the world with a tripling of rates since 1975. The resuscitation of large burns in obese patients brings unique challenges leading some to advocate the use of a bariatric specific burn chart. AimsWe sought to determine whether bariatric burn specific charts can better estimate burn percentage to prevent under resuscitation. We also reviewed the impact of obesity upon the length of hospital stay, morbidity and mortality at our institution. MethodsA retrospective case note review, of patients identified from the prospective International Burns Injury Database (iBID), was undertaken of patients’ ≥18 years of age with burns ≥15% of their total body surface area. ResultsThere were 79 overweight and 53 bariatric patients from a total of 232 patients identified. There was no statistical difference in burn percentage or fluid input estimation between the Lund & Browder and Neaman charts. Complications were seen in 51% of the normal weight patients. Obese patients had a similar incidence of death (24%) compared to the normal weight group (26%). The class I obese had the lowest complication rate at 28% and lowest mortality rate at 11%. ConclusionsBariatric specific charts did not demonstrate any benefits in optimising bariatric resuscitation. There appears to be a ‘physiological benefit’ in the class I obese who sustained burns undergoing resuscitation.

Digitisation of the total burn surface area

The assessment of surface area of the body affected by a burn (TBSA) has long been estimated with manual charts. Initial assessment of burned patients is made frequently by clinicians with limited experience producing significant errors. Paper copies of burn charts are unwieldy, subject to loss and tend towards overestimation. Thus, a simple method of calculation, recording and transmission via email or telemedicine may produce benefits in both initial treatment and data recording. Although computer-based systems have been reported previously none have entered routine clinical practice in the UK. We devised a PC-based program, “Burn Calculator”, whereby digital transcription of the burn allows automatic area calculation allowing not only a rapid, accurate figure for determination of fluid resuscitation, but also the potential for rapid electronic transmission. It also calculates fluid requirements to minimise errors during resuscitation. This initial pilot study compared figures from 50 paper charts with those from Burn Calculator to determine its accuracy and reproducibility. Previously reported variations in TBSA estimation were confirmed, as was the tendency towards TBSA underestimation resulting from transcription of a three-dimensional clinical situation to a two-dimensional representation. Burn Calculator showed high correlation ( r = 0.9850; p < 0.0001) and reproducibility ( R = 0.9957) that would simplify assessment and referral plus facilitate data collection, interpretation and research.

Estimation of breast burn size.

It is the authors' opinion that the size of chest burns on large-breasted women can be significantly underestimated, especially if the methods of calculation rely on burn charts, such as the Lund and Browder burns chart. This latter chart is based on data derived from only three women and eight men. The surface area of the torsos of 60 volunteers (20 men, 20 small-breasted women, and 20 large-breasted women) was measured using two well-established techniques. The torso surface area was divided into two parts: the anterior trunk and the posterior trunk (i.e., torso surface area = posterior trunk + anterior trunk). The anterior trunk was subdivided and the area above the costal margins defined as the pectoral region. These areas were measured separately for each individual. The volunteers' total body surface area was calculated using normograms, based on their weight and height. The area of each torso section was recorded as a percentage of the total body surface area and torso surface area. Whereas the torso surface area/total body surface area ratio did not vary significantly between the groups, the proportion of anterior to posterior trunk size did depend on the sex and on breast size. There was a direct correlation between the woman's bra cup size and the ratio of anterior-to-posterior trunk surface area. A simple chart was therefore derived that estimates the relative size of a woman's torso surface area once her bra cup size is known. Such a chart can be used to improve accuracy in adult female chest burn estimation, when used in conjunction with a burns chart. Breast burns in larger breasted women are underestimated when calculated using current burn charts. We recommend that a correction be made when estimating chest burns in women to account for the increased surface area of the breasts. A chart, such as the one we have developed, could be used in conjunction with a burn chart (e.g., Lund and Browder) to make this correction.

One Percent on the Burn Chart: Gender, Genitals, and Hermaphrodites with Attitude

Speculant sur les categories d'analyse qui pourraient emerger si des personnes non transsexuelles etaient contraintes de se definir en termes d'intersexualite, les AA. mettent en avant l'importance de la notion de genre, contre la centralite accordee generalement a l'orientation sexuelle

A Three-Dimensional Computerized Burn Chart: Stage II: Assessment of Accuracy

A Three-Dimensional Computerized Burn Chart: Stage II: Assessment of Accuracy

A Three-Dimensional Computerized Burn Chart: Stage I: Development of Three-Dimensional Renderings

A Three-Dimensional Computerized Burn Chart: Stage I: Development of Three-Dimensional Renderings

Burn Size Estimate Reliability

A study was undertaken to assess any differences between physicians' and nurses' estimates of burn size from drawings of 10 hypothetical patients with burns. Patient drawings were sent to the 199 burn facilities that are listed in the American Burn Association's Burn Care Resources in North America 1989-1990. The mailings were randomized between physicians and nurses. In order to have an even distribution, the cover letter asked the individual who received the forms to fill them out himself or herself rather than to pass them on to someone else. Forty-one nurses and 16 doctors (29%) returned the completed forms. The length of experience in burn care for the nurses averaged 9.3 years (range, 2 to 20 years), and the length of experience in burn care for the physicians averaged 14.7 years (range, 1 to 30 years [p = 0.01]). There were significant differences in the estimate of mean burn size between the physicians and nurses for only the two smallest drawings; in these cases, size may have been hard to translate from the patient to the drawing. There were four smaller burn charts (less than 20% body surface area), and in two (50%) of these, there were significant differences in the estimation of the burn size. For the six larger burn charts (greater than 20% body surface area), there were no differences in the size estimates. With regression analysis, no trend was noted that correlated the size estimates with the length of experience in burn care for either the physicians or the nurses. Additionally, the participants were asked to indicate which method of estimating burn size was used in their units. Thirty-five percent use the Rule of Nines, 33% use the Lund & Browder chart, 5.3% use Berkow's method, 3% use other methods, and 1.75% use a combination of the Lund & Browder chart and the Rule of Nines. Twenty-one percent failed to indicate any preferred method. Estimates of burn sizes with the use of standardized burn forms were consistently the same whether estimates were made by physicians or nurses. Sixty-eight percent of the respondents used the Rule of Nines or the Lund & Browder chart to estimate burn size, but 21% of the respondents failed to answer the question about which method is used in their units. In conclusion, there appears to be little variance in estimation of burn size as made by experienced burn nurses and physicians, and use of these estimates in a centralized data bank should be reliable.

Comparison of vancomycin- and teicoplanin-induced histamine release and "red man syndrome"

Twelve healthy adult males participated in a double-blind, randomized, two-way crossover study to determine histamine release and the frequency and severity of "red man syndrome" (RMS) following intravenous administration of vancomycin (15 mg/kg of body weight over 60 min) and teicoplanin (15 mg/kg over 30 min). Concentrations of vancomycin and teicoplanin in serum and concentrations of histamine in plasma were measured at baseline and during and after each infusion. Erythema and pruritus were classified a priori as mild, moderate, or severe. The extent of erythema was determined by the use of a burn chart, and pruritus was assessed by the subject with a rank scale. Global severity of RMS was determined by summation of the individual scores for pruritus and erythema. Baseline areas under the concentration-time curve for histamine were not significantly different for the vancomycin and teicoplanin treatments. Vancomycin caused RMS in 11 of 12 subjects (9 severe and 2 moderate cases) and was associated with a significant increase in plasma histamine (46.7 +/- 31.3 ng.min/ml, P less than 0.05). In contrast, teicoplanin did not cause RMS or elicit significant histamine release (8.7 +/- 13.2 ng.min/ml). Peak concentrations of vancomycin and teicoplanin in serum were 58.8 +/- 8.4 and 148.0 +/- 31.8 micrograms/ml, respectively (P less than 0.05). Assuming equal efficacy, these data suggest that teicoplanin may be a safe alternative agent in subjects experiencing severe RMS due to vancomycin; however, further studies in the clinical setting are needed.

Influence of Antihistamine Pretreatment on Vancomycin-Induced Red-Man Syndrome

Twelve adult male volunteers participated in a double-blind study to determine the effect of pretreatment with histamine and/or histamine2 receptor antagonists on the incidence and severity of vancomycin-induced "red-man syndrome." Subjects received hydroxyzine, 50 mg, ranitidine, 300 mg, hydroxyzine plus ranitidine, or placebo at weekly intervals 2 h before a l-h infusion of vancomycin, 1,000 mg. The extent of erythema was evaluated by burn chart and pruritus was assessed by each subject using a rank scale; symptoms were thus classified a priori as mild, moderate, or severe and their summation determined a global severity score for red-man syndrome. There was no significant intrasubject variation between area under the concentration-time curves for histamine and vancomycin (P greater than .05). Pretreatment with hydroxyzine alone provided significant protection against vancomycin-induced erythema and pruritus (P less than .05) whereas the effect of ranitidine did not differ significantly from placebo. The combination of hydroxyzine and ranitidine offered no advantage over hydroxyzine alone. Similar results were observed for global severity scores. Thus in normal volunteers prior administration of a histamine antagonist (hydroxyzine) provided significant protection against vancomycin-induced red-man syndrome compared to that afforded by placebo. There was no significant benefit from the histamine antagonist alone or by its addition to a histamine antagonist.

Improving the accuracy of burn-surface estimation.

A user-friendly computer-assisted method of calculating total body surface area burned (TBSAB) has been developed. This method is more accurate, faster, and subject to less error than conventional methods. For comparison, the ability of 30 physicians to estimate TBSAB was tested. Parameters studied included the effect of prior burn care experience, the influence of burn size, the ability to accurately sketch the size of burns on standard burn charts, and the ability to estimate percent TBSAB from the sketches. Despite the ability for physicians of all levels of training to accurately sketch TBSAB, significant burn size over-estimation (p less than 0.01) and large interrater variability of potential consequence was noted. Direct benefits of a computerized system are many. These include the need for minimal user experience and the ability for wound-trend analysis, permanent record storage, calculation of fluid and caloric requirements, hemodynamic parameters, and the ability to compare meaningfully the different treatment protocols.