Experience with biobrane: uses and caveats for success.
OBJECTIVE
To present some of our experience with Biobrane (a total of 703 patients in 7 years) in a range of uses in burn practice and to illustrate the caveats that we have found applicable in maintaining our success with this versatile material.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of theatre records, medical notes, and photography database to categorize our experience with Biobrane. Thorough assessment of our surgical and nursing protocols (both literature and experience influenced) to identify caveats for successful use.


RESULTS
Pivotal steps are revealed in wound selection, wound preparation, material application, dressing, and subsequent nursing care that have led to overwhelming success in definitive management of superficial partial thickness to middermal burns (ensuring pain relief, allowing early mobilization, tolerance of dressing changes and therapy, and earlier hospital discharge). Its many uses in a broad range of common burn situations are demonstrated and tips provided to achieve best outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Biobrane is not a panacea but it is extremely versatile. The different potential uses have learning curves, and suggestions are provided to flatten these.
Greenwood
John E
JE
Burns Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, Adelaide 5000, South Australia. john.greenwood@health.sa.gov.au
Clausen
Jill
J
Kavanagh
Sheila
S