DRG 272: does it provide adequate burn center reimbursement for the care of patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis?

Patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TENS) often are referred to burn centers for wound and intensive care management. Unless they undergo a surgical procedure, patients with this diagnosis are assigned to DRG 272 to determine hospital reimbursement. In 2002, this DRG had an average length of stay of 5.

Livedoid dermatitis and severe necrosis (Nicolau's syndrome) after intramuscular hydroxyzine injection.

Nicolau's syndrome, also called embolica cutis medicamentosa, is characterized by well- circumscribed livedoid dermatitis with aseptic necrosis after intramuscular injection. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman with severe necrosis of the thigh several days after a routine intramuscular injection of hydroxyzine who was transferred to and treated at our Regional Burn Center. Although there has been one case report and numerous voluntarily reported instances of intramuscular hydroxyzine-induced necrosis to the Food and Drug Administration Spontaneous Reporting System, this phenomenon is rare.

Effect of blood transfusion on outcome after major burn injury: a multicenter study.

Objective: To delineate blood transfusion practices and outcomes in patients with major burn injury.

Context: Patients with major burn injury frequently require multiple blood transfusions; however, the effect of blood transfusion after major burn injury has had limited study.

Design: Multicenter retrospective cohort analysis.

Richard F. Edlich, MD, PhD: recipient of Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Minnesota Medical Alumni Society.

On May 20, 2005, Dr. Richard F. Edlich, MD, PhD, was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Minnesota Medical Alumni Society.

Burn specialty teams.

Natural disasters have always been a threat. human-caused disasters, especially terrorist acts, are increasing in frequency. Burn centers and providers have an important contribution to make in caring for those injured in these incidents.

Telemedicine follow-up of burns: lessons learned from the first thousand visits.

Telemedicine is an evolving technology that is used for health education, health care administration, and health care distribution. The potential benefits of telemedicine include a decrease in travel expenses, improved continuity of care, and increased access to specialized consultants, thus meeting the needs of patients, practitioners, and communities. Telemedicine has many evolving applications, including improved access to health care in medically underserved and rural areas.

Treatment of hydrofluoric acid burn to the face by carotid artery infusion of calcium gluconate.

Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is highly corrosive substance often used in industrial processes. HF burns to the skin cause local tissue injury. Systemic hypocalcemia may ensue, with the potential to produce life-threatening arrhythmias.

Successful placement of an adult sternal intraosseous line through burned skin.

Obtaining vascular access can be difficult in the critical adult patient. This can be especially true in a severely burned patient, where the usual insertion site may be involved in the burn injury. We present a case in which a sternal intraosseous line was placed through a full-thickness injury, in a patient in full arrest, who subsequently underwent a successful cardiac resuscitation.

No ice, no butter.

Preview It is often difficult to determine the true extent of a burn, but most small thermal burns can be easily evaluated and managed by primary care physicians. In this article, the authors review the characteristics of different types of bums, describe those that require treatment in a bum center, and discuss appropriate measures to hasten healing and promote a satisfactory cosmetic outcome.