Abstract

Background
During the past several decades, advances in burn treatment, including the improvement in fluid ressusitation, the evolvement of antibiotics, and the early excision of the wound, have increased the survival rate of burn patients. How ever sepsis and organ dysfunction are major causes of death after burn trauma. This study focused on finding the demography of burn mortality and the cause of death and on characterizing the time course of severe burn injury. Method: From January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2002, 543 patients were treated at the Burn Unit of General Surgery, Han Gang Sacred Heart Hospital after burn trauma. Among them, 112 patients expired. We reviewed their medical records and analyzed their demography, the cause of death, and the survival period, retrospectively. Results: Among the 112 patient, the cases of death are most common in the male patients aged 40 to 49. The most common cause of burn was flame (94.6%). They expired from sepsis (63.39%), pulmonary complication (13.39%), burn shock (13.39%) and acute renal failure (6.25%). Unill 72 hours after the burn injury, burn shock was the most common cause of death, between the 3 rd day and the 7th day, pulmonary complications were the most common cause and after the 7th day, sepsis was. Conclusions: Even nowadays, many burn patients expire from burn shock and sepsis. Rapid transportation to a specialized burn center, judicious fluid ressusitation, wound care for wound healing, and prophylaxis of secondary infection can save more massive-burn victims.

• Keywords: Burn, Death