Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Pathophysiology - Burns

BURNS

Etiology
  • Thermal
  • Electrical
  • Chemical
  • Radiation
Assessment
  • History
  • Causative agent
  • Temperature of burning agent
  • Duration of contact
  • Thickness of skin
Types
  • Superficial burns (1st Degree)
    • Involves epidermis only
    • Local pain and erythema; may or may not have blisters
    • Rapid healing without scarring
    • Discomforts last about 48hours
    • Pain eased by cooling
  • Partial-thickness burns (2nd Degree)
    • Involves the epidermis and part of the dermis
    • Painful, red to pale ivory moist skin with blisters
    • Intact tactile and pain sensors
    • Healing: 21-28 days with variable scarring
  • Full-thickness Burn (3rd Degree)
    • Involves epidermis, dermis and underlying subcutaneous tissue
    • Skin: white, cherry red, black
    • Blisters: dry hard leathery appearance
    • Painless
Nursing Management
  • Provide emergency care
      • Eliminate source of burn
        • Flame
        • Scald
        • Chemicals
        • Electric current
      • Cool the burn for several minutes. Do not use ice.
      • Remove restrictive objects
      • Cover wound
      • Apply abc of trauma
        • Assess for and treat smoke inhalation injury
        • Assess for and treat carbon monoxide poisoning
      • Prevent shock
      • Monitor acid-base balance and electrolyte
      • Nothing per orem
  • Hemodynamiz stabilization
    • Prevent burn shock
    • IV fluid therapy
  • Metabolic support
  • Wound care
    • Wound cleansing and hydrotherapy
      • Immersion
      • Spraying
      • Showering
    • Debridement
      • Mechanical
      • Enzymatic
      • Surgical
  •  Topical antimicrobials
    • Silver sulfadiazine
    • Mafenide acetate 10% cream
    • Silver nitrate
  • Surgical management
    • Tangential excision
    • Primary excision
  • Burn wound coverings
    • Biologic dressings
      • Amnion
      • Allograft
      • Xenograft
    • Biosynthetic dressing
      • Biobrane
    • Autograft
      • Permanent
  • Care of graft site
    • Elevate and immobilize graft site
    • Keep site free from pressure
    • Remove exudates
    • Monitor foul-smelling drainage
    • Lubricate skin and protect from sulight
    • Use support garments and splints
  • Prevention and treatment of complications
    • Potential complications
      • Acute respiratory failure
      • Distributive shock
      • Acute renal failure
      • Compartment syndrome
      • Paralytic ileus
      • Curling’s ulcer
    • Estimate burn size
      • Rule of nine
      • Lund and browder
    • Measure urine output
    • Promote optimum recovery
      • Wound management
      • Physical therapy
    • Pain management
      • Morphine sulphate
      • Meperidine (Demerol)
    • Nutrition
      • Nothing per orem
      • High protein, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins
      • Monitor calorie intake

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