The experience in the treatment of patients with extensive full-thickness burns

The aim of the present study is to analyze the changes of cure rate and the main causes of death in the last 40 years, and to summarize our experience in the treatment of extensive full-thickness burn patients. The clinical c haracteristics, cure rate and main causes of death of 73 cases with total b urned area more than 90% TBSA and full-thickness burn area more than 70% TB SA were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 21 cases (28.8%) were cured a nd 52 cases (71.2%) died. The cure rate increased significantly in the rece nt years, and the main causes of death changed from shock and sepsis in the time period 1959-1978 to sepsis and MODS in the past two decades. Due to t he improvement of early comprehensive management of burn shock, aggressive surgical approach to full-thickness burn wound and potent systemic supporti ng measures, the survival rate increased significantly. (C) 1999 Elsevier S cience Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.