Anesthetic management of the pregnant burn patient: excision and grafting to emergency Cesarean section.

Pregnant patients with burn injuries present a unique challenge for general medical care and require special anesthetic considerations. A 21 year old woman at 28 weeks' gestation, who suffered 45% total burn surface area partial and full-thickness burns during a fire in her home, is presented. Anesthetic management included preparation and care during excision and skin grafting procedures, and during emergency Cesarean delivery.

A three-decade review of thermal injuries among the elderly at a regional burn centre.

Aim: To review trends in incidence and treatment of thermal injuries among the elderly.

Method: A 3-year retrospective review of medical records of people aged 65 years and older admitted to our burn centre over July 2003-June 2006.

Results: Elderly people with burns continued to have significant comorbidities.

Results of a protocol of transfusion threshold and surgical technique on transfusion requirements in burn patients.

Introduction: Blood loss and high rates of transfusion in burn centers remains an area of ongoing concern. Blood use brings the risk of infection, adverse reaction, and immunosuppression.

Methods: A protocol to reduce blood loss and blood use was implemented.

A prospective, randomized evaluation of intra-abdominal pressures with crystalloid and colloid resuscitation in burn patients.

Background: The volume of resuscitation in burn patients has been shown to correlate with intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). Limiting volume may reduce consequences of IAP and abdominal compartment syndrome. Colloid resuscitation has been previously shown to limit the volume required initially after burn.

The use of tourniquets in the excision of unexsanguinated extremity burn wounds.

Purpose: Tangential excision of burns is complicated by blood loss. Tourniquet use decreases blood loss, but adequacy of excision has been questioned. An attempt was made to assess the value of not exsanguinating the limb prior to tourniquet inflation to improve visualization of bleeding points and subsequent engraftment.