Medical

Published on: April 12, 2010

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a non invasive mode of medical treatment in which the patient is entirely enclosed in a pressure chamber filled with oxygen at a pressure greater than one atmosphere.

It is a painless procedure that can be carried out in either in a monoplace chamber where only one patient is in the chamber, or a multiplace chamber where the patient along with someone else are inside the chamber. The chamber is pressurized with 100% pure oxygen.

Topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy technique includes delivering 100% oxygen directly to an open, moist wound at a pressure slightly higher than atmospheric pressure through special devices. The patients may be trained and can use these devices at home.

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Published on: April 8, 2010

Airway Suction, Bronchodilators, Chest Physiotherapy

By Larry Kramer

Airway Suction:

Smoke inhalation injuries may lead to edema (swelling) of the lining of the airway, this may lead to the accumulation of secretions in the airways, these secretions need to be cleared as they may increase the risk of infection and increase the risk that these secretions may be aspirated leading to inflammation of the lungs and pneumonia.

Nasotracheal suctioning is done by inserting a suction catheter through the nasal passages and pharynx into the trachea in order aspirate these secretions.

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Published on: April 2, 2010

The Burn Team (part II)

By Larry Kramer

Speech and language therapists and pathologists: they help the patient with swallowing issues, they can help with vocal cord issues, and communication needs (if the patient can’t speak) and they can help teach the patient with a tracheotomy how to speak.
Respiratory therapist: they manage and administer oxygen, breathing treatments and other respiratory needs. If the patient’s injury is severe; the patient might need breathing assistance with the aid of mechanical ventilator (see mechanical ventilator part I, II).
Dietitian: the dietitian develops a nutrition plan for the patient to promote wound healing and minimize weight loss, (see nutrition and burn).

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Published on: April 1, 2010

The Burn Team (part I)

By Larry Kramer

Taking care of a burned patient in a hospital requires a team effort. This team is called the burn team which is a group of people with different specialties who work together to help the patient and his/her family.

The members of the burn team with some variation from one hospital to another include:

The patient: you are the key member of the burn team, when you are admitted you may meet different members of the team. Each team member plays an important role in your recovery. As your condition improves, you will become more independent and will help set goals for your care. Make sure to ask the team about any concern that you have. Communication and understanding are very important.

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Published on: March 22, 2010

Temperature Regulation In Burned Patients

By Larry Kramer

The skin plays an important role in body temperature regulation, see regulation of body temperature. In deep second degree and in third degree burns, the sweat glands will be destroyed and will not be replaced by new ones as the skin heals. These patients will often have difficulty in humid and hot situations (because of the destruction of sweat glands which play a role in regulating the body temperature).

These patients have to be careful and avoid certain exercise, activities or working conditions that might lead to heat stroke (heat stroke is an abnormally increased body temperature with accompanying physical and neurological symptoms). They are susceptible to heat stroke because the sweat glands are destroyed.

People with Partial thickness skin grafts may not fully recover sweat glands; this may cause problems with temperature regulation as well.

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Published on: March 18, 2010

Preventing And Dealing With Scars (part I)

By Larry Kramer

Scars are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin or other tissues after an injury. Scar formation is a natural part of the healing process.

Scars can happen as a result of an infection, surgery, injuries such as burns or inflammation of tissue. They may cause functional and psychological problems for patients.

There are three types of scar: Hypertrophic scar, keloid scar, and contracture scar.

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Published on: March 17, 2010

Wound Infection

By Larry Kramer

Skin plays an important role in protecting the body against infection; see skin and infection. When there is a burn the risk of infection increases depending on the degree of the burn, location of the burn and the general condition of the patient.

Risk factors for developing an infection in a burn wound may include:

Improper wound care.

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Published on: March 15, 2010

Post Hospital Burn Care

By Larry Kramer

Following a burn injury, some patients will be admitted to the hospital for a period of time and then discharged home. When the patient returns home, he/she will require an adjustment period not only for him/her but also for the whole family.

Consideration after discharge:

Itching.

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Published on: March 12, 2010

Mechanical Ventilator (part II)

By Larry Kramer

Medications are often used when the patient is intubated in the form of sedative and analgesic drugs to reduce the anxiety and stress associated with the intubation as well as helping the patient with tolerating the constant irritation of the endotracheal tube. The patient is also given prophylaxis against Deep Vein Thrombosis Part I, II. When the patient is intubated this will affect the ability of the patient to talk or speak.

There is another form of mechanical ventilator which is the oldest form in which a negative pressure is used instead of a positive pressure to create a vacuum which forces air into the lung.

Ventilators are used to support and help people who can’t breathe adequately.

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Published on: March 11, 2010

Mechanical Ventilator (part I)

By Larry Kramer

Burns can affect different parts of the body in different ways. Some patients will not be able to breathe on their own and may need the help of a breathing machine (mechanical ventilator).

Mechanical ventilator: can be defined as a device that is designed to help the patient to breathe simply by moving air into and out of the lungs.

Mechanical ventilators may be used in diseases, conditions, or factors that interfere with or impair breathing such as:

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