Ling-Wei Kuo1, Cheng-I Yen2, Chih-Yuan Fu3, Chun-Hao Pan4, Chih-Po Hsu1, Yen-Chang Hsiao2, Chi-Hsun Hsieh1, Yu-Pao Hsu1. 1. Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Trauma and Critical Care Center, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 2. Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Burn Center, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 3. Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Trauma and Critical Care Center, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: fucy@cgmh.org.tw. 4. Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Keelung, Taiwan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The Formosa Fun Coast explosion is an internationally-known event that occurred in Taiwan on June 27th, 2015. The blast involved 495 casualties in total, with 253 patients receiving 2nd degree or deeper burns on greater than 40% of the total body surface area (TBSA). Questions were raised regarding whether these victims were sent to the appropriate hospitals or not. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of the initial admission destination in this study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all of the victims from the explosion who were sent to the emergency department of Linkou and Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospitals. Patients were divided by direct admission and received via transfer. The basic demographics, the efficacy of the initial resuscitation and the clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, forty-six patients were included. Thirty-five of them were primarily admitted, and eleven of them were received via transfer. Between the two groups, there was no significant difference in the resuscitation outcome. The ratio of delaying intubation was similar (14.3% vs 27.3%, p=0.322). The rate of delayed-detected ischemic events was significantly increased in the referral group (0% vs 27.3%, p=0.001). However, there was no amputation event in either group. No difference in mortality was observed between groups (5.7% vs 9.1%, p=0.692). CONCLUSION: Our preliminary findings suggest that local hospitals are capable of providing high-quality acute care to mass casualty burn victims. Our results suggest that patients with suspected limb ischemia should be rapidly transferred to a regional burn center to ensure optimal care. Systemic pre-planning such as employing telemedicine and personnel collaboration, should be considered by the administration to maximize the function of preliminary hospitals in burn care.
PURPOSE: The Formosa Fun Coast explosion is an internationally-known event that occurred in Taiwan on June 27th, 2015. The blast involved 495 casualties in total, with 253 patients receiving 2nd degree or deeper burns on greater than 40% of the total body surface area (TBSA). Questions were raised regarding whether these victims were sent to the appropriate hospitals or not. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of the initial admission destination in this study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all of the victims from the explosion who were sent to the emergency department of Linkou and Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospitals. Patients were divided by direct admission and received via transfer. The basic demographics, the efficacy of the initial resuscitation and the clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, forty-six patients were included. Thirty-five of them were primarily admitted, and eleven of them were received via transfer. Between the two groups, there was no significant difference in the resuscitation outcome. The ratio of delaying intubation was similar (14.3% vs 27.3%, p=0.322). The rate of delayed-detected ischemic events was significantly increased in the referral group (0% vs 27.3%, p=0.001). However, there was no amputation event in either group. No difference in mortality was observed between groups (5.7% vs 9.1%, p=0.692). CONCLUSION: Our preliminary findings suggest that local hospitals are capable of providing high-quality acute care to mass casualty burn victims. Our results suggest that patients with suspected limb ischemia should be rapidly transferred to a regional burn center to ensure optimal care. Systemic pre-planning such as employing telemedicine and personnel collaboration, should be considered by the administration to maximize the function of preliminary hospitals in burn care.
Authors: Homaidan T Alhomaidan; Zafar Rasheed; Manal M Alsudais; Asma M AlMutairi; Khawlah A Alzaben; Sara M AlMutairi; Lamees I Alissa; Adel M Widyan; Abdullah S Alkhamiss; Sharifa K Alduraibi; Waleed Al Abdulmonem Journal: Int J Burns Trauma Date: 2021-06-15
Authors: Sara E Heins; Christine Buttorff; Courtney Armstrong; Rosalie Liccardo Pacula Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2021-09-22 Impact factor: 4.492