A clinico-epidemiologic study of 892 patients with burn injuries at a tertiary care hospital in Punjab, India

AIM: To analyze the causes, demographic and socio-cultural aspects, and the magnitude of burn injuries prospectively and to evaluate the outcome of treatment of patients admitted to burns ICU of tertiary care hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 892 burn patients admitted over a period of 6 years from January 2002 to December 2007 at tertiary care hospital in Punjab, India, were analyzed. RESULTS: 54% patients were males. A majority of the patients, 704(79%), were in the age group of 15-45 years. Six hundred and thirty-four patients (72%) sustained flame burns, while 17% and 7% sustained electrical and scald burns, respectively. A total of 470(53%) patients sustained major two to three degree flame burns involving more than 45% of total body surface area (TBSA). The mortality rate was 40%, i.e. 357 patients died of burns and its related problems, in our study. Six hundred and thirty-nine patients (72%) sustained burns in closed space of which 331 patients (52%) sustained burns in kitchen. Seven hundred and seventy-nine patients sustained accidental burns. Burn victims were mainly Hindus and Sikhs. The mean hospital stay varied depending upon the percentage of burns. On an average, a patient with > 45% TBSA burns received 15 whole blood transfusions. Split skin grafting was done in 416 patients. Most common complication encountered during their hospital stay was wound infection which was seen in 671 patients, followed by ARDS in 221 patients. The most common organisms causing wound infection were Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter. CONCLUSION: Developing country like India need an aggressive public education program so that people become more literate about various etiological factors causing burns and means of preventing them. Also needed are burn care hospitals which are easily accessible and affordable.