Document Detail


An analysis of the factors contributing to mortality rates in burns patients treated at Mpilo Central Hospital, Zimbabwe.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9276564     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
We present a retrospective analysis of 49 patients (61% males and 39% females) with burns who died at Mpilo Central Hospital between January 1990 and December 1993. Of the patients, 61% (30/49) were in the paediatric age group, with 55% (27/49) under 2 years of age. Most burns occurred at home (79%) and 17% of the burns occurred at the workplace. The commonest burning agents were hot water (39.5%) and open fires (39.5%). The surface area of burns ranged from 10 to 88% with a mean of 35%. Deep partial thickness and full thickness burns accounted for 52% of cases. All the patients required active resuscitation with intravenous fluids. A total of 35 organisms were isolated on 18 pus swabs. The most commonly isolated organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (43%) and Pseudomonas (23%). The main factors contributing to death were septicaemia (n = 15), pneumonia (n = 10) and acute renal failure (n = 7). The majority of patients (65%) died within 10 days, 61% of whom were children. The average time to death was 14 days (range 1-64 days). It is clear that some patients with severe burns will die regardless of how well they are managed. The key to successful management of those patients who should survive lies in early presentation and active resuscitation, prevention and control of infective complications and adequate nutritional support.
Authors:
G I Muguti; B N Mazabane
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh     Volume:  42     ISSN:  0035-8835     ISO Abbreviation:  J R Coll Surg Edinb     Publication Date:  1997 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1997-09-16     Completed Date:  1997-09-16     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7503110     Medline TA:  J R Coll Surg Edinb     Country:  ENGLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  259-61     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, Mpilo Central Hospital, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Burns / mortality*
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Survival Rate
Zimbabwe / epidemiology

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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