Skin graft is the surgical procedure in which a non healing wound or a burn wound is covered by a piece of healthy skin taken either from the patient or from a cadaver or an animal; the graft taken does not have its own blood supply and is completely separated from its original site . Skin graft is either used a temporary wound cover or a permanent one. Some wounds such as third degree burns if left to heal on their own can lead to scarring and contractions.

As the skin is the largest organ in the body and among its functions is playing a major role in protecting the body from fluid loss and help in preventing harmful micro organisims such as bacteria and viruses from entering the body and causing infections therefore its important to cover third degree burns with skin graft as soon as possible as uncovered third degree burns are more liable for wound infections and fluid loss from the burn area .

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Treatment of burns in pregnant women may include:

• Monitoring of the mother and the fetus by frequent ultrasounds, fetal heart monitoring, measuring blood clotting factors on a daily bases and other tests as needed.

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The management of burns in pregnant women is not easy, it requires a multidisciplinary approach with close monitoring of fetal and maternal well being. For the mother the aim of the treatment is to restore full range of function and to minimize damages as much as possible. For the fetus the aim of treatment is reach full term being healthy without any congenital abnormalities. Treatment is more difficult in the first trimester of pregnancy because of thr risk of abortion. When the mother is at or near term, delivery should be done as soon as possible.

Minor burns may have no effect on the course of pregnancy but burns of at least 35% of total body surface area can induce early delivery and/or fetal loss. When a burn injury happen in a pregnant lady and depending on the severity of the burn there will be multiple body reactions among which are the following:

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The diagnosis of DVT is made by physical examination and testing, the tests may include:

• Doppler ultrasound exam of the suspected limb.

The post Burns and the Risk of Deep Venous Thrombosis DVT (Part II) appeared first on Burn Injury Resource Center.

DVT is a medical condition in which a blood clot forms in a deep vein in the body. Most of the blood clots happen in the large veins in the lower legs and thigh. These clots can block the veins leading to restricted blood flow or may break off and move through the circulatory system leading to serious problems depending on which organ is affected. A DVT may cause pulmonary embolism if it goes to the lung, it may cause heart attack if it goes to the heart or it may cause a stroke if it goes to the brain.

Deep venous thrombosis may be caused by:

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There are four debridement methods which are : Surgical, Chemical, Mechanical and Autolytic debridement. The wound will be assessed to determine the best debridement method by examining the depth, extent and location of the wound; whether it lies close to other structures like bones, the risk of infection and antibiotic use, and the type of pain management that will be used during and after the procedure.

• Surgical debridement:

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Dermabrasion improves the appearance of the scar or other skin abnormality as a new layer of skin will replace the skin that has been treated. This procedure won’t entirely remove the scar or other abnormality but it will improve its appearance by softening the edges of the scar or other lesions.

The procedure can be done in a surgeon’s office or in an outpatient surgical facility. After the procedure the skin will be swollen, red and tender. Swelling gradually subsides within 2-3 weeks. You may feel some burning, itching, aching or discomfort for a while after the surgery. Pain medication, antibiotics and anti-swelling medications can be prescribed. Ointment and special dressing will help speed the healing process and your physician will give you instructions on how to care for the wound. Healing usually occurs within seven to ten days.

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If you are visiting a patient who is still in the hospital, there are certain things to keep in mind including visiting hours, number of visitors allowed and infection control as burn centers have strict guidelines regarding infection control. Visitors may be required to wear a gown, mask, cap and gloves when visiting the patient. The nurse will give you instructions on the protective clothing to decrease the risk of infection.

Look for any signs outside the patient’s door that will tell you if you have to wear these protective garments when entering the patient’s room, it’s important to follow these instructions. You have to wash your hands prior to entering and after leaving the patient. Avoid visiting the patient if you have an active cold or an infection and inform the nurse about it if you do visit.

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As burns caused by fire are the leading cause of household injuries, there are simple preventive measures that can be taken to decrease or prevent such injuries which include:

1. Installing a smoke detector and making sure it is working properly by checking it at least once a year.

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Hospital acquired infection can be external (from outside the body) or internal (from the inside of the body).

External (Exogenous) infection: examples of external sources of infection may include

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