Related Experiment Videos
Pulmonary embolism in burned children.
M H Desai1, H A Linares, D N Herndon
1Shriners Burns Institute, Galveston, TX 77550.
Burns : Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
|December 1, 1989
Summary
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is rare in burned children, accounting for less than 2% of deaths. This study found PE in 1.7% of pediatric burn patient deaths, highlighting a need for awareness.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care
- Trauma surgery
- Cardiovascular medicine
Background:
- Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a known complication in adult burn survivors, but data on pediatric populations is scarce.
- Diagnosing PE in burned children is challenging due to overlapping symptoms with pulmonary complications like pneumonia and inhalation injury.
- This study aimed to determine the incidence of PE in pediatric burn patients.
Observation:
- A retrospective review of 6589 pediatric burn admissions over 22 years identified 178 deaths.
- Pulmonary embolism was the primary cause of death in 3 cases (1.7% of deaths).
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was associated with 2 additional deaths (1.1% of deaths).
Findings:
- The incidence of PE in this cohort of burned children was 46 per 100,000 admissions.
- Despite numerous risk factors including immobility and surgical procedures, PE accounted for a small fraction of mortality.
- The overall mortality attributed to PE in pediatric burn patients was less than 2% of all deaths.
Implications:
- Burned children face significant risks for PE, necessitating vigilant monitoring and early diagnosis.
- Understanding the incidence of PE in this population can inform clinical practice and risk stratification.
- Further research is warranted to explore preventative strategies and optimize management of PE in pediatric burn care.