Life-threatening Burns ****

Question 1

What would you use if someone is in critical condition?

Answer 1

ABCDE

Question 2

What can lead to airway swelling and compromise?

Intervention?

Answer 2

Burns to airway or irritation from smoke inhalation

Early intubation
Surgical airway

Question 3

What may constrict the chest in breathing?

Management?

Answer 3

Circumferential chest burns

Cut flap - fasciotomy to free it

Question 4

What could be found in the haemoglobin?

Management?

Answer 4

Carbon monoxide

High flow oxygen reduces CO half-life from 4hrs to 1hrs

Question 5

Percentage of body burnt needs to be estimated.

What percentage of the body needs to be burnt to give fluids?

What type of burn does this exclude?

Answer 5

> 20% in adults

>15% in children

Question 6

Why is cooling the burn with cold water and covering it helpful?

What else could be given if patient in pain?

What investigations should be done to check systemically?

Who needs to be called to document how the burn looks?

Answer 6

Helps relieve pain, keeps it clean and prevents fluids loss

Analgesia

Bloods
ECG
CXR
Urine dip

Medical photography

Question 7

READ IN MORE DETAIL ON PAGE 846/ PAGE 766

Answer 7

READ IN MORE DETAIL ON PAGE 846/ PAGE 766