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Objectives: Bromelain-based enzymatic debridement has emerged as an alternative to surgical eschar removal. Indications include partial thickness, mixed pattern, and full-thickness burns. Enzymatic debridement has been approved by the European Medicines Agency for treating burn wounds affecting <15% total body surface area (TBSA). Data and evidence for the treatment of areas >15% TBSA in one session is scarce. The aim of this retrospective study was to retrospectively analyze off-label use of enzymatic debridement in a single burn center for large TBSA burns.Methods: Between 01/2017 and 12/2018, 59 patients with partial- to full-thickness burns underwent enzymatic debridement in a single center study. Patients were categorized into two groups: the regular use group with a treated area less than 15% TBSA and the off-label group (OG) with larger TBSA debrided in one session. Treatment was evaluated for systemic inflammatory reaction, bleeding, hemodynamic instability and electrolyte shifts.Results: In total, 49 patients were treated in the regular use group with a median application area of 6% (IQR 2.5-9.5) and 10 patients were treated in the off-label group with a median application area of 18% (IQR 15-19) TBSA. We found no significant differences regarding blood pressure, body temperature or hemodynamic stability during and after enzymatic debridement. No treatment-related serious adverse events were observed in either group. Catecholamine use was similar in both groups. No differences in leukocyte counts, CRP, PCT and lactate prior to application and during the following three days were observed. Sodium, potassium, chloride and phosphate levels did not differ. We found no evidence of an electrolyte shift. Survival was 49 of 49 patients (100%) in the RG and 7 of 10 patients (70%) in the OG (p = 0.004).Conclusion: Enzymatic debridement did not result in any expected or unexpected side effects in the patient groups investigated. These preliminary results indicate the potential safety of bromelain-based enzymatic debridementin the treatment of burns greater than 15% TBSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bromelain-based enzymatic debridement has emerged as a valuable option to the standard surgical intervention for debridement in burn injuries. Adverse effects on coagulation parameters after enzymatic debridement have been described. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of enzymatic and surgical debridement on coagulation. Between 03/2017 and 02/2021 patients with burn injuries with a total body surface area (TBSA) ≥ 1% were included in the study. Patients were categorized into two groups: the surgically debrided group and the enzymatically debrided group. Coagulation parameters were assessed daily for the first seven days of hospitalization. In total 132 patients with a mean TBSA of 17% were included in this study, of which 66 received enzymatic debridement and 66 received regular surgical-debridement. Patients receiving enzymatic debridement presented significantly higher factor-V concentration values over the first seven days after admission (p = <0.01). Regarding coagulation parameters, we found no difference in INR-, aPTT-, fibrinogen-, factor-XIII- and thrombocyte-concentrations over the first seven days (p = >0.05). Enzymatic debridement in burned patients does not appear to increase the risk of coagulation abnormalities compared with the regular surgical approach. • Enzymatic debridement (ED) in burned patients does not increase the risk of coagulation. • ED emerges are safe and an alternative to standard treatment without significant effect of the coagulation. • This is the first analysis of coagulation-specific laboratory markers including coagulation factor-V and factor-XIII concentrations in ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypothermia in severely burned patients is associated with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality. The use of an oesophageal heat exchanger tube (EHT) can improve perioperative body temperatures in severely burned patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the intraoperative warming effect of oesophageal heat transfer in severe burn patients. Single-centre retrospective study performed at the Burns Centre of the University Hospital Zurich. Between January 2020 and May 2021 perioperative temperature management with EHT was explored in burned patients with a total body surface area (TBSA) larger than 30%. Data from patients, who received perioperative temperature management by EHT, were compared to data from the same patients during interventions performed under standard temperature management matching for length and type of intervention. A total of 30 interventions (15 with and 15 without EHT) in 10 patients were analysed. Patient were 38 [26−48] years of age, presented with severe burns covering a median of 50 [42−64] % TBSA and were characterized by an ABSI of 10 [8−12] points. When receiving EHT management patients experienced warming at 0.07 °C per minute (4.2 °C/h) compared to a temperature loss of − 0.03 °C per minute (1.8 °C/h) when only receiving standard temperature management (p < 0.0001). No adverse or serious adverse events were reported. The use of an oesophageal heat transfer device was effective and safe in providing perioperative warming to severely burned patients when compared to a standard temperature management protocol. By employing an EHT as primary temperature management device perioperative hypothermia in severely burned patients can possibly be averted, potentially leading to reduced hypothermia-associated complications. • EHT was associated with intraoperative warming as opposed to standard temperature management. • This study shows that the use of an EHT was effective and safe. • EHT can potentially leading to reduced hypothermia-associated complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Allogeneic blood transfusions are common in the treatment of severely burned patients as surgery may lead to major blood loss. However, transfusions are associated with a number of adverse events. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to investigate the impact of allogeneic blood transfusions on clinical outcomes in severely burned patients.Methods: This retrospective study included all adult patients admitted to the burn center of the University Hospital Zurich between January 2004 and December 2014, with burn injuries greater than 10% of total body surface area and receiving both surgical and intensive care treatment. Primary Endpoints were infectious or thromboembolic complications and mortality and secondary endpoints were length of hospital and ICU stay. Simple and multivariable logistic and linear regression models, adjusted for injury severity and confounders, were applied.Results: 413 patients met inclusion criteria of which 212 patients (51%) received allogenic blood products. After adjustment for injury severity and confounders, red blood cell transfusion was independently associated with wound infection (OR 13.5, 95% CI 1.7-107, p = 0.014), sepsis (OR 8.3, 4.2-16.3; p < 0.001), pneumonia (OR 4.7, 2.2-10.0; p < 0.001), thrombosis (OR 3.0, 1.2-7.4; p = 0.015), central line infection (OR 34.7, 4.6-260; p = 0.001) and a longer ICU and hospital stay (difference 17.7, CI 12.1-23.4, p < 0.001 and 22.0, 15.8-28.2, p < 0.001, respectively). Fresh frozen plasma transfusion was independently associated with a longer ICU and hospital stay (difference 13.7, 95% CI 5.5-21.8, p = 0.001 and 13.5, 4.6-22.5, p = 0.003, respectively). Platelet transfusion was independently associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (OR 4.5, 1.3-15.5; p = 0.018) and mortality (OR 5.8, 2.1-16.0; p = 0.001).Conclusion: Transfusion of allogeneic blood products is associated with an increased infection rate and thromboembolic morbidity and a longer hospital stay in severely burned patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]