Don’t take it lightly, this is the right treatment for burns

Before discussing how to handle it, dr. Puri first explained the meaning of burns. According to him, burns are a form of tissue damage or loss caused by contact with heat sources such as fire, hot water, chemicals, electricity and radiation. Burns are a type of trauma with high morbidity and mortality. The cost required for handling is also high.

In Indonesia itself, burns are still a serious problem. Treatment and rehabilitation are still difficult and require perseverance, high costs, trained and skilled personnel. Therefore, the management of burns is more appropriate to be managed by a trauma team consisting of Plastic Surgery specialists, intensivists, Internal Medicine Specialists or Pediatricians, nutritionists, medical rehabilitation, psychiatrists.

The first result of a burn is pain and heat, followed by shock from damage to the blood vessels. Capillaries exposed to high temperatures become damaged and increase their permeability. The blood cells in it are also damaged so that in extensive burns, anemia can occur. The increased permeability causes edema and creates an electrolyte-rich bullae. This causes a decrease in the volume of intravascular fluid. Skin damage from burns causes fluid loss due to excessive evaporation, formation of fluid-filled bullae and discharge from the scabs of third-degree burns.

If the burn area is less than 20%, usually the body’s compensatory mechanisms can still handle it, but if more than 20% hypovolemic shock will occur with typical symptoms, such as restlessness, paleness, coldness, sweating, small pulse, and rapid, decreased blood pressure. , and decreased urine production. Swelling occurs slowly, the maximum occurs after eight hours.

In a fire in an enclosed space or when a wound occurs on the face, airway mucosal damage may occur due to inhalation of hot gases, fumes or vapors. The resulting laryngeal edema can cause airway obstruction with symptoms of shortness of breath, tachypnea, stridor, hoarseness and dark soot-colored sputum.

Can also CO gas poisoning and other toxic gases. Carbon monoxide will bind to hemoglobin so tightly that hemoglobin is no longer able to bind oxygen. Signs of mild poisoning are weakness, confusion, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. In severe poisoning, coma occurs. Can be more than 60% of hemoglobin bound to CO, the patient can die. After 12-24 hours, capillary permeability begins to improve and the mobilization and reabsorption of edema fluid into the blood vessels. This is indicated by increased diuresis.

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