Burns and Electrical Injuries

doi:10.1017/9781108647397.022

Chapter 21 - Burns and Electrical Injuries

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 August 2019

Ashley Brady

Edited by

Alex Koyfman and

Brit Long

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Alex Koyfman: Affiliation:
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Brit Long: Affiliation:
San Antonio Military Medical Center

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Summary

In the United States alone, burns are responsible for 450,000 emergency department visits, 45,000 hospitalizations, and 3,500 deaths every year.1 Roughly half of those hospital admissions are to specialized regional burn centers.2 In 2009, there were 128 regional burn centers in 43 states, and 40% of admissions were due to fire or flame burns, while another 30% were due to scald injuries. The majority of scald injuries occur in children under the age of 5 years.3,4 Therefore, understanding the management of the burn patient is essential to all emergency physicians. Not only do burns cause local damage to the affected site, but large burns can also result in fluid and electrolyte abnormalities, metabolic acidosis, inflammatory response, and even myocardial dysfunction in severe cases.5

Type: Chapter
Information: The Emergency Medicine Trauma Handbook , pp. 307 - 321

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108647397.022 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2019

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