Early tracheostomy and active exercise programmes in adult intensive care patients with severe burns

Trends and cross-country inequalities in global burns burden among children and adolescents: A population-based study from 1990 to 2021

BACKGROUND

Burns among children and adolescents represent a significant global health burden, leading to substantial morbidity and disability. This study aimed to analyze the trends in burn incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) from 1990 to 2021, and to project future trends to 2035, highlighting global and regional disparities.

METHODS

We utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database covering 204 countries and territories. Burn data were extracted from multiple sources including hospital records, health surveys, and national health databases. Trend analysis was projected using the Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model. Health inequality was assessed using the slope index of inequality (SII) and the concentration index (CI).

RESULTS

In 2021, the global incidence of burns among children and adolescents was 8,484,254 cases, with an age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of 1315.94 per 100,000 population, showing an annual reduction of 1.33 % from 1990. The prevalence and YLDs also showed significant annual declines. Males had higher incidence rates than females. Younger children (0-4 years) experienced the highest incidence rates, while adolescents (15-19 years) had the highest prevalence. Regional disparities were evident, with Central Asia and Central Europe having the highest ASIRs. The SII and CI indicated persistent socio-economic health disparities, with lower socio-demographic index (SDI) countries bearing a disproportionate burden. Predictive analysis suggests a continued decline in burn incidence, prevalence, and YLDs through 2035. Additionally, burns among adolescents and young adults result in significant loss of labor force, exacerbating socio-economic challenges in affected regions.

CONCLUSION

The global burden of burns in children and adolescents has decreased significantly, yet substantial disparities persist across different regions and socio-economic strata. Continued efforts in improving burn prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation are essential to further reduce the burden and address health inequalities.

Inhalation Injury, Respiratory Failure, and Ventilator Support in Acute Burn Care

Sustaining an inhalation injury increases the risk of severe complications and mortality. Current evidential support to guide treatment of the injury or subsequent complications is lacking, as studies either exclude inhalation injury or design limit inferences that can be made. Conventional ventilator modes are most commonly used, but there is no consensus on optimal strategies. Settings should be customized to patient tolerance and response. Data for pharmacotherapy adjunctive treatments are limited.

Oropharyngolaryngeal manifestations in severe toxic epidermal necrolysis: a single-center's retrospective case series

BACKGROUND

Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a rare and life-threatening mucocutaneous disease. Although mucosal ear, nose, and throat (ENT) involvement is common, little is known about the characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcomes of these lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate ENT mucosal lesions in severe toxic epidermal necrolysis patients and analyze their characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcomes, as well as proposing a management algorithm to prevent long-term debilitating sequalae of these lesions.

METHODS

This is a retrospective review of toxic epidermal necrolysis cases treated at the tertiary burns unit of the Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, Switzerland, between 2006 and 2019.

RESULTS

Out of 19 patients with severe toxic epidermal necrolysis, 17 (89%) underwent a complete ENT examination at admission and 14 (82%) had ENT mucosal involvement. Five (26.3%) patients died during the stay in the intensive care unit. Of the 16 patients who received maximal care, 13 (81%) required orotracheal intubation for a median time of 16 (IQR: 14) days. Out of the 14 patients who survived, four (29%) had long-term ENT complications consisting of synechiaes necessitating subsequent endoscopic procedures. Those four patients all required mechanical ventilation with an orotracheal tube and suffered from hypopharyngeal synechiaes as well as oral and endonasal synechiaes in individual cases.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests a high prevalence of ENT synechiaes in patients with severe toxic epidermal necrolysis and requiring orotracheal intubation. Periodic ENT examination could prevent mature synechiae formation in these patients. We propose an algorithm to prevent long-term sequalae in ENT mucosal involvement.

Preliminary Exploration of Long-Term Patient Outcomes After Tracheostomy in Burns: A Burn Model System Study

INTRODUCTION

Upper airway management is crucial to burn care. Endotracheal intubation is often performed in the setting of inhalation injury, burns of the face and neck, or large burns requiring significant resuscitation. Tracheostomy may be necessary in patients requiring prolonged ventilatory support. This study compares long-term, patient-reported outcomes in burn patients with and without tracheostomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from the Burn Model System Database, collected from 2013 to 2020, were analyzed. Demographic and clinical data were compared between those with and without tracheostomy. The following patient-reported outcomes, collected at 6-, 12-, and 24-mo follow-up, were analyzed: Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12), Satisfaction with Life, Community Integration Questionnaire, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System 29-Item Profile Measure, employment status, and days to return to work. Regression models and propensity-matched analyses were used to assess the associations between tracheostomy and each outcome.

RESULTS

Of 714 patients included in this study, 5.5% received a tracheostomy. Mixed model regression analyses demonstrated that only VR-12 Physical Component Summary scores at 24-mo follow-up were significantly worse among those requiring tracheostomy. Tracheostomy was not associated with VR-12 Mental Component Summary, Satisfaction with Life, Community Integration Questionnaire, or Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System 29-Item Profile Measure scores. Likewise, tracheostomy was not found to be independently associated with employment status or days to return to work.

CONCLUSIONS

This preliminary exploration suggests that physical and psychosocial recovery, as well as the ability to regain employment, are no worse in burn patients requiring tracheostomy. Future investigations of larger scale are still needed to assess center- and provider-level influences, as well as the influences of various hallmarks of injury severity. Nonetheless, this work should better inform goals of care discussions with patients and families regarding the use of tracheostomy in burn injury.

Multidisciplinary staff perceived barriers and enablers to early mobilization of patients with burns in the ICU

BACKGROUND

Complex challenges face clinicians managing critically ill patients with burns, particularly in the context of enhancing outcomes after a stay in ICU. Compounding this, a dearth of research explores the specific and modifiable factors that impact early mobilization in the ICU environment.

AIM

To explore the barriers and enablers of early functional mobilization for patients with burns in the ICU from a multidisciplinary perspective.

DESIGN

A qualitative phenomenological study.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews supplemented by online questionnaires conducted with 12 multidisciplinary clinicians (four doctors, three nurses and five physical therapists) who previously managed burn patients at a quaternary level ICU. Data were thematically analysed.

RESULTS

Four main themes: patient, ICU clinicians, the workplace and the physical therapist were identified as impacting on early mobilization. Subthemes identified barriers or enablers to mobilization but all were strongly influenced by overarching theme of the clinician's "emotional filter." Barriers included high levels of pain, heavy sedation and low levels of clinician exposure to treating patients with burns. Enablers included higher levels of clinician's experience and knowledge about burn management and benefits of early mobilization; increased coordinated staff resources when undertaking mobilization; and, open communication and positive culture towards early mobilization across the multidisciplinary team.

CONCLUSION

Patient, clinician and workplace barriers and enablers were identified to influencing the likelihood of achieving early mobilization of patients with burns in the ICU. Emotional support for staff through multidisciplinary collaboration and development of structured burns training program were key recommendations to address barriers and strengthen enablers to early mobilization of patients with burns in the ICU.

Tracheostomies of Patients With COVID-19: A Survey of Infection Reported by Health Care Professionals

BACKGROUND

Health care professionals (HCPs) performing tracheostomies in patients with COVID-19 may be at increased risk of infection.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate factors underlying HCPs' COVID-19 infection and determine whether tracheostomy providers report increased rates of infection.

METHODS

An anonymous international survey examining factors associated with COVID-19 infection was made available November 2020 through July 2021 to HCPs at a convenience sample of hospitals, universities, and professional organizations. Infections reported were compared between HCPs involved in tracheostomy on patients with COVID-19 and HCPs who were not involved.

RESULTS

Of the 361 respondents (from 33 countries), 50% (n = 179) had performed tracheostomies on patients with COVID-19. Performing tracheostomies on patients with COVID-19 was not associated with increased infection in either univariable (P = .06) or multivariable analysis (odds ratio, 1.48; 95% CI, 0.90-2.46; P = .13). Working in a low- or middle-income country (LMIC) was associated with increased infection in both univariable (P < .001) and multivariable analysis (odds ratio, 2.88; CI, 1.50-5.53; P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Performing tracheostomy was not associated with COVID-19 infection, suggesting that tracheostomies can be safely performed in infected patients with appropriate precautions. However, HCPs in LMICs may face increased infection risk.