[Rescue and treatment for the mass burn casualties of yellow phosphorus explosion].
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the characteristics and treatment of burn casualties of yellow phosphorus explosion, so as to share the experiences in emergency treatment.


METHODS
By analyzing the data related to this accident, the characteristics of the injury and experiences of treatment for mass burn casualties from yellow phosphorous explosion were summarized.


RESULTS
Eighty-one patients, 72 males and 9 females, were injured in a yellow phosphorus explosion. The mean age of the patients was 24 +/- 13 years old (5-42 y). The mean total burn surface area was (9 +/- 11)% [(0.4% - 70.0%))] TBSA, and the mean burn surface area of III degrees/IV degrees was (7 +/- 10)% [(0.4% - 60.0%)] TBSA. Most of the patients showed the symptoms and signs of phosphorus poisoning. Among all the patients, 27 cases (33.3%) showed hepatic dysfunction, 15 cases (18.5%) had renal dysfunction, 42cases (51.9%) showed electrolytes disorders. Among the 8 patients with burn surface area over 10% TBSA and less than 20% TBSA, high levels of cardiac enzymes were found in 6 cases, anaemia in 7 cases (3 with progressive anaemia), asphyxia occurred in 1 case 48 hours after burn, and in 1 case complicated with stress ulcer. Escharectomy and skin grafting were performed within four days after burn in 72 patients. All the patients survived, some of them showed impaired hand function and hypertrophic scar, and partial finger amputation was done in 3 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Yellow phosphorus explosion produces deep burn injuries in surrounding people especially in exposed parts such as head, hand and so on. Adequate organization of medical resources for emergency treatment, early debridement, and accelerating excretion of phosphorus are the key points for the successful rescue of mass casualties.
Department of Burns, the Third Hospital of Wuhan, Wuhan 430060, PR China.
Wei-Guo
WG
Xie
Wen-Wei
WW
Huang
Song-Guo
SG
Yao
De-Yun
DY
Wang
Ming-Xuan
MX
Wang
Zhi-Qing
ZQ
Zhu
Jie-Feng
JF
Liu
Wei
W
Zhang
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005392:First Aid; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D010758:Phosphorus