[Burn treated at the Haukeland University Hospital Burn Centre--20 years of experience].
BACKGROUND
The Burn Centre at Haukeland University Hospital has had a national burn function since 1984.


METHODS
The following data were reviewed: area injured, age, sex, length of stay, mortality and county of residence for all admissions in the period 1984-2004.


RESULTS
1294 acute admissions for burns, chemical injuries or high-voltage injuries were identified. 71% of the patients were male. The mean age was 29.6 years; 24% were below 3 years of age. The mean (SD) area of injury was 19.5 +/- 18.3 % of the body surface area. 458 patients (35%) had burns involving less than 10% of the body surface area. The mean length of hospitalisation was 19.5 +/- 19.8 days. 140 patients (10.8%) died before discharge; these had a significantly higher age and injured area than the 1154 survivors. Every year there were 2-3 patients who had such extensive burns or substantial comorbidity that they only received palliative treatment. The probability of survival after a burn affecting 60% of the body surface, was around 50 % for all ages combined. On average 1.17 patients per 100.000 inhabitants were transferred annually from other parts of Norway for specialized treatment at this burn centre.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite societal focus on burn prevention measures there has been no reduction in the number of patients transferred to the burn centre during the 20-year period.
Onarheim
Henning
H
Kirurgisk serviceklinikk, Haukeland Universitetssykehus, 5021 Bergen. henning.onarheim@helse-bergen.no
Guttormsen
Anne Berit
AB
Eriksen
Einar
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000266:history; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000266:history; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016019:Survival Analysis