The aim of study was to investigate if new treatment methods reduced mortality and diminished hospital stay time for survivors.
Material and methods: We assessed patients, treated in Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital with 10-80% 2B-3 degrees body surface area burned. Group A, which was assessed prospectively, included 89 patients, treated during 2001-2003. All patients in Group A received sufficient enteral nutrition, in 21 patient early escharectomy and skin-grafting were done. This group was compared with Group B, assessed retrospectively and included 89 patients, treated in 1997-1998. They did not receive enteral nutrition and were treated without early escharectomy and skin grafting.
Results: Groups were homogeneous by age, extent of general and deep burn, and burn indexes. For 24% patients in Group A early escharectomy and skin-grafting was done, they were operated on the average at 3.6 day after admission (standard deviation - 1.32). In Group A mortality was 5.6%. Average hospital stay time for survivors was 35.7 days (standard deviation--20.4) or 0.9 day/% body surface area burned, standard deviation--0.6. In Group B no early escharectomies and skin grafting were done. Mortality in Group B was 23.6%, hospital stay time for survivors--40.6 days (standard deviation--23.6), or 1.9 day/% body surface area burned. These indicators were statistically significantly different compared to Group A (p<0.05). The significant influence of new treatment methods in major burns was established.
Conclusion: New methods, early escharectomy and skin grafting and enteral nutrition, introduced in Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital in the last 5-7 years significantly reduced mortality and hospital stay time for survivors (p<0.05).