Various approaches to burn care in the Lebanon War, 1982

All soldiers severely burned during the Lebanon War, 1982, were hospitalized in one of four facilities, in each of which different methods of burn care are practiced. These methods represent the various approaches to burn care in different centers in the world and in the literature. Resuscitation was adequate in all facilities. Oral hyperalimentation, although administered in different ways, is recognized as a main factor in preventing infections and enhancing healing in burn victims. The main aspect in which opinions differ is the care of the wound itself. However, it was clear after examining many of the patients from the different centers that tangential excision is superior to delayed excision, and certainly to conservative treatment. The difficulties in comparing different methods of treatment are discussed. Early and continuous psychological surveillance is necessary for the successful recovery and rehabilitation of burn patients; a special teamwork model was developed to promote this approach.