Burn injury management in academic medical center with periodic transfer siege due to acts of war: A retrospective analysis of 3085 burn patients. Issue 4 (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ori, Berger; Ran, Talisman
• Is Part Of: Burns open. Volume 6:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 177
• Page End: 180
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: Plastic surgery -- Burns -- War -- Burn epidemiology -- Trauma; ED emergency department -- ICU intensive care unit -- TBSA total body surface area; Burns and scalds -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Burns and scalds -- Periodicals; Burns and scalds -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Burns and scalds -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Burns and scalds -- Nursing -- Periodicals; Burns; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.11005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.burnso.2022.09.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2468-9122

Abstract

Highlights: Barzilai treats 2% of all yearly burn injuries in the country, a substantial volume. Second degree scald burn of the upper limb is the most common burn in this paper. Under siege, transferring a patient to a burn center is not always possible. When patient transfer is not an option, care must be given in house. We focus on establishing a reserved burn-care team for times of war. Abstract: Background: Barzilai medical center, in Ashkelon Israel, serves intermittently as a frontline hospital in times of war. During conflicts evacuation to adjacent burn centers is impossible. This study aims to describe characteristics of burn victims treated to assess the hospital's capabilities in burn handling. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted, between 2010 and 2021. All patients with ICD-9 codes describing a burn were recruited. Patients' and burns' characteristics were analyzed. Results: A total of 3085 patients were included, a yearly average of 257 patients. The high season was summer. The mean age was 28 years old, and 24 % were in the ages 0–10 years. Patients were predominantly male (61 %). The limbs were the most affected area (60 %). Scald was the most prevalent etiology (45.61 %). Second-degree burns were most common (60 %). TBSA was often less than 5 % (66 %). The majority (92 %) were treated as outpatients. An increase of 30 % in burn injury victims' admission was noted during the last conflict. Conclusions: Our results are in accordance with past studies in terms of the characteristics. We aim to build a reserve force of surgeons to be prepared for war and continued caring for all burn patients when transfer is not possible.