J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2004 Dec;15(6):561-566.

Burn Size Estimation and Fluid Resuscitation In the Emergency Department

• Jun DH
• Choi DH
• Choi WI

Abstract

PURPOSE
Assessment of the burn size in the Accident and Emergency Department is one of the most important aspects in the initial care of a burn victims. The purpose of this study was to examine in the Emergency Department the accuracy of burn size estimates and the adequacy of burn-patient fluid resuscitation in relationship to the Parkland formula.
METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted of 52 adult burn patients who visited the Emergency Department of Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center during 2003 year. A substratification of the data was undertaken to compare total burn surface area as estimated by the Emergency-Department staff with that determined by the Burn-Care-Unit staff.
RESULTS
The average length of stay in the Emergency Department was 394.04 minutes (range: 150~1055 minutes). The average total body surface area evaluated by the Emergency-Department staff was 33.31% compared with the Burn-Care-Unit staff's average of 29.77%, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). During their stays in the Emergency Department, burn patients were underresuscitated based on the fluid volume calculated by using the Parkland formula.
CONCLUSION
Early communication with the Burn-Care-Unit staff in the Emergency Department and better education of Emergency-Department physicians will markedly improve the overall care of burn patients.

Keyword

Burn; Fluid; Emergency department

MeSH Terms

Adult
Body Surface Area
Burns*
Education
Emergencies*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Humans
Length of Stay
Resuscitation*
Retrospective Studies