Limb intracompartmental sepsis in burn patients associated with occult infection.
BACKGROUND
Intracompartmental sepsis (IS) is a rare complication in burn patients. IS presents in patients with inadequate perfusion of intracompartmental tissues with subsequent ischaemic necrosis and infection. Contributing factors include high-volume resuscitation, delayed escharotomies and previous bacteraemias. We describe the profile of a series of patients who developed IS in our Intensive Care Burn Unit (ICBU).


METHODS
We carried out a retrospective chart review of patients admitted to an ICBU over a 5-year period.


RESULTS
Seven patients of 659 admissions (1.0%) developed IS involving the extremities. Diagnosis was based on the identification of purulent drainage and local swelling associated with signs of sepsis of unknown origin. Total body surface area (TBSA) burned averaged 67.4% and full-thickness body surface area (FTBSA) burned averaged 48.4%. All patients were sedated and mechanically ventilated. The first 24-h fluid requirements averaged 6.0 ml kg(-1) per %TBSA burn (range 3.5-7.0 ml kg(-1)per %TBSA). Escharotomies were performed in five patients within the first 24h of admission. Median time of diagnosis of IS was 23 days from admission (range 11-45 days). Four patients developed bacteraemia caused by the same microorganism infecting the soft tissue. In five cases, the infecting microorganism had previously colonised the overlying burned skin. Three patients required amputation of the affected limb.


CONCLUSIONS
IS is a devastating infectious complication which appears late after large burns. Predisposing factors include high-volume resuscitation, delayed escharotomies, colonisation of the overlying skin and previous bacteraemias. Earlier diagnosis and management are needed to attain a better outcome.
Peñuelas
Oscar
O
Intensive Care and Burn Unit, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Spain. openuelas@gmail.com
Cerdá
Enrique
E
Espino
Javier
J
García-Domínguez
José
J
Hierro
Paloma García
PG
de la Cal
Miguel A
MA
Lorente
José A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D005121:Extremities / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents