1 The Impact of No Next of Kin Decision Makers on End-of-life Care

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S4-S5
Author(s):  
Ryan K Ota ◽  
Maxwell B Johnson ◽  
Trevor A Pickering ◽  
Warren L Garner ◽  
Justin Gillenwater ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critically Ill ◽  
Decision Maker ◽  
Total Body Surface Area ◽  
Burn Patients ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Next Of Kin ◽  
Medical Decisions ◽  
Comfort Care ◽  
Burn Care ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction For critically ill burn patients without a next of kin (NOK), the medical team is tasked with becoming the surrogate decision maker. This poses difficult ethical and legal challenges for burn providers. Despite this frequent problem, there has been no investigation of how the presence of a NOK affects treatment in burn patients. This study is the first to evaluate this relationship. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on a cohort of patients who died during the acute phase of their burn care from a single burn center from 2015 to 2019. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years and mortality within 4-weeks of admission. Exclusion criteria were death from dermatologic disease or trauma. Variables collected included age, gender, mechanism of injury, length of stay (LOS), total body surface area (TBSA), revised Baux score, and the presence of a NOK. Fisher’s Exact Test and Student’s t-test were used for analysis. Results In total, 67 patients met inclusion criteria. Of these patients, 14 (21%) did not have a NOK involved in medical decisions. Table 1 shows the means and odds ratio between the two groups. Patients without a NOK were younger (p < 0.05), more likely to be homeless (p < 0.01), had higher TBSA (p < 0.01), had shorter LOS (p < 0.01), and were 5 times less likely to receive comfort care (p < 0.05). Gender and ethnicity were not statistically significant. Conclusions Patients without a NOK present to participate in medical decisions are transitioned to comfort care less often despite having a higher burden of injury. This disparity in standard of care between the two groups demonstrates a need for a cultural shift in burn care to prevent suffering of these marginalized patients. Burn providers should be empowered to reduce suffering when no decision maker is present. Applicability of Research to Practice We report that the absence of a NOK has a significant impact leading to a decreased initiation of comfort care in critically ill burn patients. National protocols should be created to allow burn providers to act as a surrogate to prevent prolonged suffering.

The Impact of No Next of Kin Decision Makers on End-of-Life Care

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan K Ota ◽  
Maxwell B Johnson ◽  
Trevor A Pickering ◽  
Warren L Garner ◽  
T Justin Gillenwater ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Body Surface ◽  
Total Body Surface Area ◽  
Burn Patients ◽  
Next Of Kin ◽  
Medical Decisions ◽  
Comfort Care ◽  
Burn Care ◽  
Total Body

Abstract For critically ill burn patients without a next of kin, the medical team is tasked with becoming the surrogate decision maker. This poses ethical and legal challenges for burn providers. Despite this frequent problem, there has been no investigation of how the presence of a next of kin affects treatment in burn patients. To evaluate this relationship, a retrospective chart review was performed on a cohort of patients who died during the acute phase of their burn care. Variables collected included age, gender, length of stay, total body surface area, course of treatment, and presence of a next of kin. In total, 67 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these patients, 14 (21%) did not have a next of kin involved in medical decisions. Patients without a next of kin were significantly younger (P = .02), more likely to be homeless (P < .01), had higher total body surface area burns (P = .008), had shorter length of stay (P < .001), and were five times less likely to receive comfort care (P = .01). Differences in gender and ethnicity were not statistically significant. We report that patients without a next of kin present to participate in medical decisions are transitioned to comfort care less often despite having a higher burden of injury. This disparity in standard of care demonstrates a need for a cultural shift in burn care to prevent the suffering of these marginalized patients. Burn providers should be empowered to reduce suffering when no decision maker is present.

11 Vitamin D Deficiency on Admission and the Association with Length of Stay in Patients with Thermal Injury: A Multi-center Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S13-S14
Author(s):  
Sarah Zavala ◽  
Kate Pape ◽  
Todd A Walroth ◽  
Melissa A Reger ◽  
Katelyn Garner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Burn Injury ◽  
Total Body Surface Area ◽  
Inhalation Injury ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Burn Patients ◽  
Comfort Care ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction In burn patients, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased incidence of sepsis. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of vitamin D deficiency in adult burn patients on hospital length of stay (LOS). Methods This was a multi-center retrospective study of adult patients at 7 burn centers admitted between January 1, 2016 and July 25, 2019 who had a 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentration drawn within the first 7 days of injury. Patients were excluded if admitted for a non-burn injury, total body surface area (TBSA) burn less than 5%, pregnant, incarcerated, or made comfort care or expired within 48 hours of admission. The primary endpoint was to compare hospital LOS between burn patients with vitamin D deficiency (defined as 25OHD < 20 ng/mL) and sufficiency (25OHD ≥ 20 ng/mL). Secondary endpoints include in-hospital mortality, ventilator-free days of the first 28, renal replacement therapy (RRT), length of ICU stay, and days requiring vasopressors. Additional data collected included demographics, Charlson Comorbidity Index, injury characteristics, form of vitamin D received (ergocalciferol or cholecalciferol) and dosing during admission, timing of vitamin D initiation, and form of nutrition provided. Dichotomous variables were compared via Chi-square test. Continuous data were compared via student t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Univariable linear regression was utilized to identify variables associated with LOS (p < 0.05) to analyze further. Cox Proportional Hazard Model was utilized to analyze association with LOS, while censoring for death, and controlling for TBSA, age, presence of inhalation injury, and potential for a center effect. Results Of 1,147 patients screened, 412 were included. Fifty-seven percent were vitamin D deficient. Patients with vitamin D deficiency had longer LOS (18.0 vs 12.0 days, p < 0.001), acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring RRT (7.3 vs 1.7%, p = 0.009), more days requiring vasopressors (mean 1.24 vs 0.58 days, p = 0.008), and fewer ventilator free days of the first 28 days (mean 22.9 vs 25.1, p < 0.001). Univariable analysis identified burn center, AKI, TBSA, inhalation injury, admission concentration, days until concentration drawn, days until initiating supplementation, and dose as significantly associated with LOS. After controlling for center, TBSA, age, and inhalation injury, the best fit model included only deficiency and days until vitamin D initiation. Conclusions Patients with thermal injuries and vitamin D deficiency on admission have increased length of stay and worsened clinical outcomes as compared to patients with sufficient vitamin D concentrations.

Nebulized Heparin With N-Acetylcysteine and Albuterol Reduces Duration of Mechanical Ventilation in Patients With Inhalation Injury

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlin A. McGinn ◽  
Katie Weigartz ◽  
Alicia Lintner ◽  
Michael J. Scalese ◽  
Steven A. Kahn
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Unit Length ◽  
Total Body Surface Area ◽  
Inhalation Injury ◽  
Burn Patients ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Mechanically Ventilated ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Injury Outcomes ◽  
The Impact

Objective: Nebulized heparin has been proposed to improve pulmonary function in patients with inhalation injuries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of nebulized heparin with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and albuterol on the duration of mechanical ventilation in burn patients. Methods: This is a retrospective study evaluating mechanically ventilated adult patients admitted to a regional burn center with inhalation injury. Outcomes were compared between patients who were prescribed a combination of nebulized heparin with NAC and albuterol versus similar patients who did not. Results: A total of 48 patients met inclusion criteria (heparin n = 22; nonheparin n = 26). Patients in the nonheparin group had higher percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) burned (29.00 [5.75-51.88] vs 5.25 [0.50-13.25] %TBSA; P = .009), longer duration of mechanical ventilation (6.50 [2.75-17.00] vs 3.00 [1.00-8.25] days; P = .022), and longer intensive care unit length of stay (LOS) (3.00 [3.00-28.75] vs 5.50 days [2.00-11.25]; P = .033). Upon regression, use of heparin was the only variable associated with reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation ( P = .039). Conclusion: Nebulized heparin in combination with NAC and albuterol was associated with a significant reduction in the duration of mechanical ventilation.

The Impact of Race/Ethnicity on the Outcomes of Burn Patients: A Systematic Review of the Literature

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmine Peters ◽  
Mariel S Bello ◽  
Leigh Spera ◽  
T Justin Gillenwater ◽  
Haig A Yenikomshian
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Native American ◽  
The United States ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Surgical Trauma ◽  
Insurance Status ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Burn Care ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Racial and ethnic disparities are endemic to the United States and are only beginning to attract the attention of researchers. With an increasingly diverse population, focused and tailored medicine to provide more equitable care is needed. For surgical trauma populations, this topic is a small but expanding field and still rarely mentioned in burn medicine. Disparities in prevention, treatment, and recovery outcomes between different racial and ethnic minorities who are burned are rarely discussed. The purpose of this study is to determine the current status of identified disparities of care in the burn population literature and areas of future research. A systematic review was conducted of literature utilizing PubMed for articles published between 2000-2020. Searches were used to identify articles that crossed the burn term (burn patient OR burn recovery OR burn survivor OR burn care) and a race/ethnicity and insurance status-related term (race/ethnicity OR African-American OR Black OR Asian OR Hispanic OR Latino OR Native American OR Indigenous OR Mixed race OR 2 or more races OR socioeconomic status OR insurance status). Inclusion criteria were English studies in the US that discussed disparities in burn injury outcomes or risk factors associated with race/ethnicity. 1,169 papers were populated, 55 were reviewed, and 36 articles met inclusion criteria. Most studies showed minorities had poorer inpatient and outpatient outcomes. While this is a concerning trend, there is a paucity of literature in this field and more research is needed to create culturally-tailored medical care and address the needs of disadvantaged burn survivors.

scholarly journals Multimodal Analgesia and Discharge Opioid Requirements in Burn Patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 963-966
Author(s):  
Michael Wright ◽  
Jin A Lee
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Body Surface Area ◽  
Body Surface ◽  
Total Body Surface Area ◽  
Multimodal Analgesia ◽  
Burn Patients ◽  
Area Burned ◽  
Total Body ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Analgesia in burn patients is challenging given the complexity of burn pain and prolonged need beyond hospital admission. Given the risks of opioids, the impact of multimodal analgesia postdischarge needs to be further elucidated in this population. This retrospective, single-center cohort study evaluated adult burn patients who were consecutively admitted to the burn service with at least 10% total body surface area burned and subsequently followed in the burn clinic between February 2015 and September 2018. Subjects were separated into two cohorts based on discharge pain regimens: multimodal and nonmultimodal. The primary outcome was the change in opioid requirements (measured in oral morphine equivalents) between discharge and first follow-up interval. Secondary outcomes included the classes of multimodal agents utilized and a comparison of opioid requirements between the last 24 hours of admission and discharge. A total of 152 patients were included for analysis, 76 in the multimodal cohort and 76 in the nonmultimodal cohort. The multimodal cohort was noted to have increased total body surface area burned and prolonged number of days spent in the intensive care unit at baseline; however, the multimodal cohort exhibited a more significant decrease in opioid requirements from discharge to first follow-up interval when compared with the nonmultimodal cohort (106.6 vs 75.4 mg, P = .039).

Management of burns in the ICU

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahriar Shahrokhi ◽  
Marc G. Jeschke
Keyword(s):  
Total Body Surface Area ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Similar Data ◽  
Burn Patients ◽  
Burn Care ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Critical Components ◽  
Current Standards

Outcomes of burn patients have significantly improved over the last two decades. A recent study in The Lancet showed that a burn size of over 60% total body surface area (TBSA) burned is now recognized as being associated with high risks; a decade ago similar risks resulted from a 40% TBSA burned. Similar data have been obtained in severely-burned adults and the elderly. This chapter discusses current standards, recent evidence, and future developments in burn care to improve outcomes of these patients. Critical components in the management of patients with burns are early adequate resuscitation, recognition and management of airway burns and appropriate treatment of the different stages of burn care—prehospital, early, and late management.

Timing of Flap Surgery in Acute Burn Patients Does Not Affect Complications

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 967-970
Author(s):  
David Perrault ◽  
Danielle Rochlin ◽  
Christopher Pham ◽  
Arash Momeni ◽  
Yvonne Karanas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Independent Predictor ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Total Body Surface Area ◽  
Free Flaps ◽  
Stepwise Logistic Regression ◽  
Electrical Injury ◽  
Burn Patients ◽  
Burn Wound ◽  
Burn Care ◽  
Flap Coverage

Abstract Pedicled and free flaps are occasionally necessary to reconstruct complex wounds in acute burn patients. Flap coverage has classically been delayed for concern of progressive tissue necrosis and flap failure. We aim to investigate flap complications in primary burn care leveraging national U.S. data. Acute burn patients with known % total body surface area(TBSA) were extracted from the Nationwide/National Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2014 based on the International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes, ninth edition. Variables included age, sex, race, Elixhauser index, %TBSA, mechanism, inhalation injury, and location of burn. Flap complication was defined by ICD-9 procedure code 86.75, return to the operating room for flap revision. Multivariable analysis evaluated predictors of flap compromise using stepwise logistic regression with backward elimination. The weighted sample included 306,924 encounters of which 526 received a flap (0.17%). About 7.8% of flap encounters sustained electric injury compared to 2.7% of non-flap encounters (odds ratio [OR] 3.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.95–7.24, P < .001). The mean hospital day of the flap procedure was 10.1 (SD 10.7) days. Flap complications occurred in 6.4% of cases. The timing of flap coverage was not associated with complications. The only independent predictor of flap complication was electrical injury (OR 40.49, 95% CI 2.98–550.64, P = .005). Electrical injury was an independent predictor of flap complications compared to other mechanisms. Flap timing was not associated with return to surgery for complications. This suggests that the use of flaps is safe in acute burn care to achieve burn wound closure with an understanding that electrical injuries may warrant particular consideration to avoid failure.

Early Enteral Nutrition in Geriatric Burn Patients: Is There a Benefit?

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 986-991
Author(s):  
Lourdes Castanon ◽  
Samer Asmar ◽  
Letitia Bible ◽  
Mohamad Chehab ◽  
Michael Ditillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Enteral Nutrition ◽  
Early Enteral Nutrition ◽  
Burn Patients ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Burn Care ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Complications And Mortality

Abstract Nutrition is a critical component of acute burn care and wound healing. There is no consensus over the appropriate timing of initiating enteral nutrition in geriatric burn patients. This study aimed to assess the impact of early enteral nutrition on outcomes in this patient population. We performed a 1-year (2017) analysis of the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program and included all older adult (age ≥65 years) isolated thermal burn patients who were admitted for more than 24 hr and received enteral nutrition. Patients were stratified into two groups based on the timing of initiation of feeding: early (≤24 hr) vs late (>24 hr). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to control for potential confounding factors. Outcome measures were hospital and intensive care unit lengths of stay, in-hospital complications, and mortality. A total of 1,004,440 trauma patients were analyzed, of which 324 patients were included (early: 90 vs late: 234). The mean age was 73.9 years and mean TBSA burnt was 31%. Patients in the early enteral nutrition group had significantly lower rates of in-hospital complications and mortality (15.6% vs 26.1%; P = 0.044), and a shorter hospital length of stay (17 [11,23] days vs 20 [14,24] days; P = 0.042) and intensive care unit length of stay (13 [8,15] days vs 17 [9,21] days; P = 0.042). In our regression model of geriatric burn patients, early enteral nutrition was associated with improved outcomes. The cumulative benefits observed may warrant incorporating early enteral nutrition as part of intensive care protocols.

scholarly journals Comparative Population Plasma and Tissue Pharmacokinetics of Micafungin in Critically Ill Patients with Severe Burn Injuries and Patients with Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infection

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (10) ◽  
pp. 5914-5921 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. García-de-Lorenzo ◽  
S. Luque ◽  
S. Grau ◽  
A. Agrifoglio ◽  
L. Cachafeiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critically Ill ◽  
Body Surface ◽  
Candida Parapsilosis ◽  
Total Body Surface Area ◽  
Burn Patients ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Abdominal Infection ◽  
Area Burned ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Intra Abdominal Infection

ABSTRACTSeverely burned patients have altered drug pharmacokinetics (PKs), but it is unclear how different they are from those in other critically ill patient groups. The aim of the present study was to compare the population pharmacokinetics of micafungin in the plasma and burn eschar of severely burned patients with those of micafungin in the plasma and peritoneal fluid of postsurgical critically ill patients with intra-abdominal infection. Fifteen burn patients were compared with 10 patients with intra-abdominal infection; all patients were treated with 100 to 150 mg/day of micafungin. Micafungin concentrations in serial blood, peritoneal fluid, and burn tissue samples were determined and were subjected to a population pharmacokinetic analysis. The probability of target attainment was calculated using area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h/MIC cutoffs of 285 forCandida parapsilosisand 3,000 for non-parapsilosis Candidaspp. by Monte Carlo simulations. Twenty-five patients (18 males; median age, 50 years; age range, 38 to 67 years; median total body surface area burned, 50%; range of total body surface area burned, 35 to 65%) were included. A three-compartment model described the data, and only the rate constant for the drug distribution from the tissue fluid to the central compartment was statistically significantly different between the burn and intra-abdominal infection patients (0.47 ± 0.47 versus 0.15 ± 0.06 h−1, respectively;P< 0.05). Most patients would achieve plasma PK/pharmacodynamic (PD) targets of 90% for non-parapsilosis Candidaspp. andC. parapsilosiswith MICs of 0.008 and 0.064 mg/liter, respectively, for doses of 100 mg daily and 150 mg daily. The PKs of micafungin were not significantly different between burn patients and intra-abdominal infection patients. After the first dose, micafungin at 100 mg/day achieved the PK/PD targets in plasma for MIC values of ≤0.008 mg/liter and ≤0.064 mg/liter for non-parapsilosis Candidaspp. andCandida parapsilosisspecies, respectively.

scholarly journals Impact of Early Mobility of ABCDEF Bundle on Delirium

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent Medeiros
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Critical Appraisal ◽  
Advanced Practice ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Early Mobility ◽  
Abcdef Bundle ◽  
The Impact

A systematic review was performed utilizing the PRISMA checklist to evaluate the impact of early mobility of the ABCDEF bundle on delirium in critically-ill patients. Critical appraisal of the research utilizing CASP and cross analysis was performed of 5 studies that met inclusion criteria revealing two statistically significant results on the impact of early mobility on delirium. Summary and conclusion as well as recommendations for application within the advanced practice role were included.

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