Evaluation of our 15-month experience in the Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital Burn Unit

Abstract

Objectives: Burn is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in all age groups. Until recently, various problems were encountered with regard to hospital admission of burn patients in our country, and patients mostly received treatment in general surgery departments. However, hospitalization in general surgery clinics generated several problems for both burn patients and other patients in the clinic, as well. We present our 15-month experience in a burn unit which was recently established in our hospital in order to better serve burn patients.

Materials and Methods: A total of 110 patients who were admitted to the Burn Unit in Ministry of Health Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital within 15 months were assessed retrospectively were compared with the literature.

Results: Most burns occurred in summer. Mean age of patients was 41.5 years. Patients aged 20-40 years consisted the largest group exposed to burn and flame-type burns which were the most frequent type of burns. The LD50 value for twelve patients who died was 96.4730845. Age, accompanying illness, inhalation burn and total body surface area were detected as significant prognostic factors.

Conclusion: Establishment of facilities like burn units or burn centers which are specialized in burn treatment allows convenient referral of burn patients to these centers. Number of patients, especially those with higher grade and more extensive burns, to be admitted is likely to enhance. In addition, patients will be cared by trained, experienced and specialized burn teams. Therefore, keeping proper and complete patient records and presenting this data to the literature will enlighten future studies in this regard.