title: [Analysis of burn-related deaths in Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital during 1993-2002].
abstract: Objective of this study was to investigate mortality of burned patients, treated in Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital during 1993-2002, changes of mortality, causes of death, to assess patients' age, gender, burn agent, and adjacent diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of case-records of 283 burned patients deceased during 1993-2002 was done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 1993-2002, 1876 burned adult patients were hospitalized in Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital. The mortality rate of burned patients was between 9 and 22% (average--13.3%, standard deviation--3.8). Age of deceased patients was on average 56 years (standard deviation--8); actually 21.6% were older that 80 years. There were 62% men among deceased burned patients. Common body surface area burned was 32% (standard deviation--28.6%), deep burn area was at average 22% (standard deviation--19.8%). Seventy two percent of burns were caused by fire, and 10% of patients were scalded. In 35% case-records adjacent diseases were not mentioned, in 57% atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease were diagnosed, 5% of patients had respiratory diseases, 7% had central nervous system troubles, mental disorders were diagnosed in 2%. Eight percent were cachectic at admission, 6%--with chronic alcohol dependence. In 70% of patients pneumonia was diagnosed, in 13%--pulmonary edema, and in 39%--sepsis. Deceased patients were treated until death on average 14 days (standard deviation--6); during first two weeks 50% died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At higher mortality risk are elder burned patient with major burns, especially with serious adjacent diseases. Common death causes in burned patients are pneumonia, pulmonary edema and sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery and Burns, Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital, Eiveniu 2, 50010 Kaunas, Lithuania. daikle@centras.lt
authors.forename: Daiva
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gudaviciene
authors.forename: Rytis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rimdeika
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors