A haemostatic technique using silicone gel dressing for burn surgery

Area of Science:

• Surgical Innovation
• Burn Management
• Hemostasis

Background:

• Significant blood loss and high transfusion rates are persistent challenges in burn surgery.
• Tangential excision is a common surgical procedure for burn injuries, often associated with considerable bleeding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a novel hemostatic technique using silicone gel dressing during tangential excision in burn surgery.
• To compare blood loss and transfusion requirements between conventional methods and the new silicone gel dressing technique.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective observational study was conducted from April 2011 to March 2015.
• Data from 60 tangential excision operations (44 patients) were analyzed, divided into conventional and silicone gel dressing groups.
• Collected data included pre- and postoperative hemoglobin levels, blood loss, transfusions, excised/harvested areas, and surgery duration.

Main Results:

• The silicone gel dressing group had significantly larger excised and harvested areas compared to the conventional group.
• Blood loss per percent excised and the number of blood transfusions were significantly lower in the silicone gel dressing group.
• Surgical durations were comparable between the two groups.

Conclusions:

• The novel silicone gel dressing technique effectively minimizes bleeding during tangential excision in burn surgery.
• This hemostatic method leads to a remarkable reduction in blood loss and transfusion requirements.
• The technique offers a promising advancement in managing burn injuries, enhancing patient safety and surgical outcomes.