HYPERBARIC TREATMENT OF THERMAL BURNS

Course overview

THERMAL BURNS ARE COMMON IN THE UNITED STATES, AND APPROXIMATELY 2 MILLION PEOPLE ARE INJURED EVERY YEAR, WITH ABOUT 155 PER MILLION PATIENTS NEEDING ADMISSION TO A HOSPITAL, AND 6500 CASES RESULTING IN DEATH. BURNS ARE COMPLEX AND DYNAMIC INJURIES THAT CAUSE PROFOUND ACTIVATION OF PLATELETS AND WHITE CELLS, DESTRUCTION OF THE MICROVASCULATURE BY COAGULATION OR THROMBOSIS, AND ACCUMULATION OF EDEMA. MEDICAL TREATMENT OF BURNS IS CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE SECOND DEGREE OR WORSE AND WHEN A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF BODY SURFACE AREA IS AFFECTED. THERE ARE MULTIPLE FACTORS TO WHY THERMAL BURNS ARE DIFFICULT TO TREAT, AND HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY (HBO) CAN BE USED AS PART OF THE TREATMENT REGIMEN TO REDUCE HEALING TIME AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THERMAL BURNS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN USING HBO AS PART OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE PATIENTS.