Burn Size Estimation and Fluid Resuscitation In the Emergency Department.
- Author:
Duck Ho JUN
1
;
Dai Hai CHOI
;
Woo Ik CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Keimyung University, College of Medicine, Taegu, Korea.autojewel@naver.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Burn;
Fluid;
Emergency department
- MeSH:
Adult;
Body Surface Area;
Burns*;
Education;
Emergencies*;
Emergency Service, Hospital*;
Humans;
Length of Stay;
Resuscitation*;
Retrospective Studies
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2004;15(6):561-566
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Assessment of the burn size in the Accident and Emergency Department is one of the most important aspects in the initial care of a burn victims. The purpose of this study was to examine in the Emergency Department the accuracy of burn size estimates and the adequacy of burn-patient fluid resuscitation in relationship to the Parkland formula. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of 52 adult burn patients who visited the Emergency Department of Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center during 2003 year. A substratification of the data was undertaken to compare total burn surface area as estimated by the Emergency-Department staff with that determined by the Burn-Care-Unit staff. RESULTS: The average length of stay in the Emergency Department was 394.04 minutes (range: 150~1055 minutes). The average total body surface area evaluated by the Emergency-Department staff was 33.31% compared with the Burn-Care-Unit staff's average of 29.77%, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). During their stays in the Emergency Department, burn patients were underresuscitated based on the fluid volume calculated by using the Parkland formula. CONCLUSION: Early communication with the Burn-Care-Unit staff in the Emergency Department and better education of Emergency-Department physicians will markedly improve the overall care of burn patients.