Use of the CONUT Index as a Predictor of Integration Of Cutaneous Grafts in Burn Patients

OBJECTIVE: To present the initial experience of 12 patients with burns treated with cutaneous grafts and to analyse the variables that influence their integration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed data from 12 patients seen in a year in the regional hospital of high speciality of Oaxaca. Quantified variables: Age, sex, burned body surface, depth of burn, airway injury, nutritional status by CONUT index, type of graft, development of local infection and days of hospital stay. RESULTS: We included 10 men (83%) and 2 women (17%) with median age of 28 years, median burned body surface area of 19%, depth: 75% were mixed burns and 25% were third degree; with median time between injury and application of grafts of 13 days, 1 patient presented airway injury and 50% concomitant trauma. REGARDING NUTRITIONAL STATUS: Fifty percent had severe malnutrition, 33% moderate and 16% mild. About 67% of the grafts were meshed and 33% intact, the mean integration percentage was 80%, 25% developed local infection and the average length of hospital stay was 21 days. CONCLUSIONS: Cutaneous grafts are the definitive treatment of burns, in their integration process influence different factors, including nutritional status. The CONUT index seems to be a useful, safe and widely available tooling in the nutritional assessment of the burned patient and can be related to the percentage of integration of the grafts and the days of hospital stay.