title: General characteristics of paint thinner burns: Single center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to present characteristic features and risk factors of paint thinner burns in order to raise awareness and help prevent these injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of patients admitted to the burn unit due to paint thinner burns were retrospectively reviewed, and patients with comprehensive data available were included in the study. Total of 48 patients (3 female and 45 male) with mean age of 27.79±11.49 years (range: 4-58 years) were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean total hospitalization period was 30.25±27.11 days (range: 3-110 days), and mean total burn surface area was 32.53±24.06% (range: 3.0-90.0%). In 31 cases (64.6%), intensive care unit admission was required. Among all 48 patients, 9 (18.8%) died in hospital and remaining 38 were discharged after treatment. Primary cause of death was septicemia (n=7) or respiratory failure (n=6). Inhalation injury was present in 12 of the patients, 6 of whom died (50%). Statistically significant differences were found between expired and discharged patients when compared for presence of inhalation injury (p=0.01) and septicemia (p=0.031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ignition of paint thinner is an important cause of burn injuries that may result in very severe clinical picture. Patients require prompt and careful treatment. Clinicians should be aware that inhalation injury and sepsis are the 2 main factors affecting mortality rate in this group of patients. With increased awareness, preventive measures may be defined. Further studies are warranted to decrease mortality rate in this subgroup of burn patients.
authors.forename: Mustafa Celalettin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Haksal
authors.forename: Cağrı
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tiryaki
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Kocaeli Derince Training and Research Hospital, Kocaeli-Turkey. mbyazicioglu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Murat Burç
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Yazıcıoğlu
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Güven
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Çiftci
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Esen
authors.forename: Hamdi Taner
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Turgut
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yıldırım
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002053:Burn Units; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010150:Paint / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis; D055815:Young Adult