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Defibrillation--a burning issue in coronary care units!
G W McNaughton1, J P Wyatt, J C Byrne
1Department of Accident and Emergency, Western Infrmary, Glasgow.
Scottish Medical Journal
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Skin burns from defibrillation are common in coronary care units, often due to repeated use. While some burns may be unavoidable, identifying and avoiding contributing factors can help reduce their occurrence.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Skin burns are a known complication of defibrillation.
- There is a lack of published data regarding the frequency, causes, and treatments of defibrillation burns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the frequency of defibrillation burns in UK coronary care units (CCUs).
- To identify factors contributing to defibrillation burn occurrence.
- To document treatments prescribed for these burns.
Main Methods:
- A postal questionnaire survey was distributed to Senior Sisters/Charge Nurses in 263 UK CCUs.
- Response rate was 88.2% (232 replies).
Main Results:
- Defibrillation burns were reported in 98.7% of responding CCUs.
- Recurrent defibrillation was the most frequently implicated cause.
- 1% silver sulphadiazine cream (Flamazine) was the most common topical treatment.
Conclusions:
- Defibrillation burns are highly prevalent in CCUs.
- While recurrent defibrillation is a common cause, other identifiable factors can be managed to potentially reduce burn incidence.
- Further research into preventative strategies is warranted.