Essential Burn Care for Non-Burn Specialists

Despite a decreasing number of burns and improvement in mortality of burn patients in the United States, burn injuries are still frequent. Non-burn specialists such as emergency medicine physicians and primary care physicians will inevitably treat burn patients. In many instances, the first clinicians to see burn patients are non-burn specialists in the urgent care, emergency department, or primary care clinic, yet they typically do not have any formal training or exposure to burns in residency. As a result, many clinicians feel uneasy about managing burns even if the burn is minor. If a burn center is in a reasonable proximity, one can transfer the patient, but prior to transfer, or if no burn center is available, these clinicians may have to perform the initial management. It is important that they understand the basic principles of burn care. In times of burn disasters, non-burn specialists are needed to care for burn patients as burn centers can be quickly overwhelmed. They shouldbe able to manage burn patients including stabilization, resuscitation and wound care. The text includes all current management available today for the care of burn patients. It is organized in a stepwise manner with clear information listed in sequential chapter formats. Chapter one offers the basic epidemiology of burn care while chapters three and four discuss the initial assessment and management. The chapter five discusses inhalation injury while the next three chapters focus on burn wound management including face and hand. The majority of chapters that follow center on a specific type of burn or burn patient. The last few chapters discuss aftercare including scar management and burn rehabilitation. Written by experts in the field, Essential Burn Care for Non-Burn Specialists is a valuable guide for any physician involved in burn treatment such as emergency physicians, primary care physicians, and general and plastic surgeons.