title: Early single-shot intravenous steroids do not affect pulmonary complications and mortality in burned or scalded patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Inhalation injury, especially in combination with cutaneous burns, is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients admitted to burn care centers. Either with or without the presence of a cutaneous burn, inhalation injury contributes to high risk for developing severe pulmonary complications. Steroids may reduce a prolonged and destructive inflammatory response to toxic or allergic substances. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of early single-shot intravenous steroids on pulmonary complications and mortality in burned or scalded patients with or without inhalation injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of a prospective single center database of patients registered between 1989 and 2011 who were admitted to the intensive care unit of our burn care center after burn or scald injury. Uni-variate statistical analysis was performed comparing two groups (steroid treated vs. non steroid treated patients) with regard to clinical outcome. Main parameters were sepsis, mortality and pulmonary complications such as pneumonia, ALI and ARDS. Multi-variate analysis was used by logistic regression with mortality and pulmonary complications as the dependent variables to identify independent risk factors after burn or scald injuries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1637 patients with complete data were included in the present analysis. 199 (12.2%) received single-shot intravenous steroids during the prehospital phase of care. In 133 (66.8%) of these patients, inhalation injury was diagnosed via bronchoscopy. Steroid treated patients had sustained a significantly higher severity of burn than non-steroid treated patients (Abbreviated Burn Severity Index 7.1±3 vs. 6.0±2.9; p<0.001). In a multivariate analysis using a logistic regression model early intravenous steroid treatment had no significant effect on pulmonary complications and mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our single center cohort of burned and scalded patients single-shot intravenous steroids during the pre-hospital phase of care was not associated with pulmonary complications or mortality.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Plastic- and Reconstructive Surgery, Handsurgery, Burn Care Center, University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109 Köln, Germany. Electronic address: olli.thamm@gmx.net.
authors.forename: Oliver C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Thamm
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Plastic- and Reconstructive Surgery, Handsurgery, Burn Care Center, University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109 Köln, Germany. Electronic address: perbixw@kliniken-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Perbix
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Plastic- and Reconstructive Surgery, Handsurgery, Burn Care Center, University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109 Köln, Germany. Electronic address: drmaxzinser@yahoo.de.
authors.forename: Max J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zinser
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109 Köln, Germany. Electronic address: paola-koenen@web.de.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koenen
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109 Köln, Germany. Electronic address: wafaisadea@kliniken-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Arasch
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wafaisade
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109 Köln, Germany. Electronic address: marc.maegele@t-online.de.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maegele
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), University of Witten/Herdecke, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109 Köln, Germany. Electronic address: rolf.lefering@uni-wh.de.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lefering
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), University of Witten/Herdecke, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109 Köln, Germany. Electronic address: edmund.neugebauer@uni-wh.de.
authors.forename: Edmund A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Neugebauer
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Plastic- and Reconstructive Surgery, Handsurgery, Burn Care Center, University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center, Ostmerheimer Straße 200, 51109 Köln, Germany. Electronic address: panos_theodorou@yahoo.de.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Theodorou
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D002059:Burns, Inhalation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids