Guidelines for the management of partial-thickness burns in a general hospital or community setting--recommendations of a European working party.
Most partial-thickness burns in Europe and the United States are managed by non-burns specialists who do not treat burns on a regular basis. To achieve better patient outcomes, partial-thickness burns should be properly managed in non-specialist centres and referred to burn units when appropriate. Although some guidelines have been published to assist non-specialists, few have attempted to provide a comprehensive step-by-step guidance emphasising wound-healing principles. A working party of European burn specialists devised a new treatment algorithm to provide clear and current guidance on the management of partial-thickness burns in the general hospital and community setting. Four areas were identified for improvement: diagnosis and referral, wound preparation, wound covering and post-wound care. The guidelines take into account the role of wound dressings, infection and general patient well-being, bearing in mind the different working environments that occur across Europe. They are aimed at improving the overall outcome for community-treated patients within the expanding European Union and reducing the number of preventable late referrals to specialists.
Alsbjörn
Bjarne
B
Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. bjarne.alsbjoern@rh.hosp.dk
Gilbert
Philip
P
Hartmann
Bernd
B
Kaźmierski
Marcin
M
Monstrey
Stan
S
Palao
Ricard
R
Roberto
Maria Angelica
MA
Van Trier
Antoine
A
Voinchet
Véronique
V
D000465:Algorithms; D001458:Bandages; D002053:Burn Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002056:Burns / Q000628:therapy*; D003153:Community Health Services; D032921:Consensus; D005060:Europe; D006760:Hospitalization; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014945:Wound Healing