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Cardiac disease and the patient with burns
D R Goff1, G F Purdue, J L Hunt
1University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
The Journal of Burn Care & Rehabilitation
|July 1, 1990
Summary
Cardiac complications are common in burn patients, especially those with a history of heart disease. Myocardial infarction in burn patients significantly increases in-hospital mortality.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Burn Care
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Cardiac disease presents unique challenges in acute burn care.
- Burn patients are susceptible to various cardiac complications.
- Understanding cardiac event incidence is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the types and incidence of cardiac complications in acute burn admissions.
- To assess the impact of pre-existing cardiac history on complication rates.
- To evaluate the mortality associated with cardiac events in burn patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 2477 consecutive acute burn admissions.
- Analysis of cardiac complication types and frequency.
- Comparison of outcomes between patients with and without prior cardiac history.
Main Results:
- Nearly 50% of burn patients with a cardiac history experienced cardiac dysfunction, primarily arrhythmias.
- Eight percent of all burn patients suffered an in-hospital myocardial infarction.
- Only 6% of patients without prior cardiac history showed cardiac dysfunction.
- In-hospital mortality post-myocardial infarction was 3.5 to 4 times higher in burn patients.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac complications are prevalent in burn patients, particularly those with a history of cardiac disease.
- Myocardial infarction in burn patients carries a significantly elevated mortality risk.
- Burn care for cardiac patients is generally expectant, with invasive monitoring reserved for clinical indication, except for those with prosthetic valves.