Summary
The purpose of this study was to examine the consistency of burns resuscitation practice
throughout UK and Ireland. Twenty-six Burns Units were identified via the National
Burn Bed Bureau and surveyed via a postal questionnaire. Twenty-three units returned
a completed questionnaire, covering all of the units treating children and 17 out
of 20 units that treat adults.
Nearly all of the Burns Units commence fluid resuscitation at 10% total body surface
area of burn in children and 15% total body surface area of burn in adults. The estimated
resuscitation volume is calculated using the Parkland or the Muir and Barclay formula
in 76% and 11% of units, respectively. The most commonly used resuscitation fluid
is Hartmann's solution. No unit uses blood as a first line fluid. Resuscitation is
discontinued after 24 h in 35% of units and after 36 h in 30% of units. Approximately half of the units do not routinely change the type
of intravenous fluid administered after the initial period of resuscitation.
This survey illustrates that resuscitation of thermally injured patients in UK and
Ireland Burns Units is fairly consistent with a shift towards crystalloid resuscitation.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 09, 2007
Accepted:
September 3,
2006
Received:
July 21,
2006
Footnotes
☆This work was presented in part at the British Burns Association meeting on the 28th April 2005.
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
