High-Dose Ascorbic Acid for Burn Shock Resuscitation May Not Improve Outcomes

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery
• Critical Care Medicine
• Nutritional Support

Background:

• High-dose ascorbic acid (HDAA) is proposed to reduce inflammation and fluid needs in burn shock resuscitation (BSR).
• The impact of HDAA on patient outcomes during BSR remains unclear.
• This study investigates the efficacy of HDAA in improving critical care outcomes for burn patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare ventilator days, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and mortality in burn patients receiving HDAA versus those who did not during BSR.
• To evaluate the overall effectiveness of HDAA in critical care settings for severe burns.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case-control study was conducted from 2012 to 2015.
• 38 patients receiving HDAA during BSR were matched with 42 control patients based on age and %TBSA.
• Data collected included hospital length of stay (LOS), ventilator days (VENT), inhalation injury (INH), VAP, and mortality (MORT).

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in age, %TBSA, LOS, or VENT between the HDAA and control groups.
• Incidence of inhalation injury (52% vs. 36%) and VAP (29% vs. 14%) showed no statistically significant difference.
• Mortality rates were similar (26% vs. 23%), but HDAA patients had a higher incidence of acute renal failure requiring dialysis (23% vs. 7%, OR 5.4).

Conclusions:

• HDAA during BSR did not lead to significant improvements in ventilator requirements, VAP, or mortality.
• A potential increase in acute renal failure requiring dialysis was observed in patients receiving HDAA.
• Further research is warranted to clarify the risks and benefits of HDAA in burn resuscitation.