Sedation and Analgesia for Dressing Change: A Survey of American Burn Association Burn Centers

Pain and sedation management for patients undergoing burn dressing change can be challenging. Variations appear to exist in the selection of medications before and during burn dressing change. To determine if institutional variations exist in pain and sedation management for burn dressing change, an online survey was sent to ABA Burn Center nurses and physicians. Three hundred seventy-eight anonymous responses were received from nurses (72%), nurse practitioners (10%), and physicians (18%). Burn centers had adult (22%), pediatric (12%), or pediatric and adult (66%) patients. Eighty percentage of centers had >200 patients/year. Sixty-eight percentage always used a premedication. Oxycodone and morphine or fentanyl was the most frequently used per oral (PO) and intravenous (IV) opioid premedication, respectively. The most common IV premedication anxiolytic were benzodiazepines. Sixty-eight percentage always used a long-acting opioid. Anesthetic regimen was decided case-by-case (47%) or specific protocol (24%). Protocol was followed always (18%) or mostly (55%). Patients' procedural pain could be better controlled 20% of the time. Pain regimen was altered most of the time (25%). Providers differed rarely (39%) and sometimes (44%) regarding preferred regimen. Ketamine was the most common deep sedative. A dedicated anesthesiologist was rarely (33%) consulted, determined case-by-case (33%) or prior failure/excess pain (19%). Acute pain service was never (51%) or rarely (35%) consulted. Pain and sedation management for burn dressing change is difficult and variations in approach exist among burn centers. Such management needs individualized care. Providers must be responsive to pain alterations. Consultation with anesthesia providers may be needed in specific cases. Further studies need to be completed to demonstrate the most effective means of controlling burn pain and evaluating patient outcomes.