Abstract

RAMOS-GALLARDO, Guillermo et al. Results in the management of electrical burns at a third level health care hospital. Cir. gen [online]. 2012, vol.34, n.3, pp.189-192. ISSN 1405-0099.

Objective: To demonstrate whether there is a difference in the results of handling patients with high or low voltage-induced burns treated at the Antiguo Hospital Civil de Guadalajara and to compare our results with those in the literature. Setting: Antiguo Hospital Civil ''Fray Antonio Alcalde'' (third level health care hospital). Design: Descriptive, retrospective study. Statistical analysis: χ² square test was used for non-parametric variables and Student's t test was used for parametric variables. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ than 0.05. Patients and methods: Patients with electrical burns cared for from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. All patients with electrical burns were included and were divided in two groups: group I, those with high voltage burns, and group II those with low voltage burns. Variables studied were: age, sex, occupation, civil status, type of burn (high or low voltage), entrance site, exit site, time elapsed between injury and arrival to the emergency care, percentage of burnt body surface, established treatment, urinary volume, myoglobinuria, surgical procedures, days of in-hospital stay, and mortality. Results: A total of 22 adult patients were included, 19 men and 3 women. Group I consisted of 8 patients and group II of 14 patients. All patients arrived at the emergency ward within the first 24 hours after the accident. Patients with high-voltage burns had longer in-hospital stays (p 0.0035). There was only one death, pertaining to group I. Conclusion: High voltage burns lead to greater morbidity and mortality, and to a longer in-hospital stay.

Keywords : Burn; electricity; high voltage; low voltage.

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