Acute thrombocytopenic crisis following burns complicated by staphylococcal septicaemia

The pathophysiological changes in a burn patient can at times manifest as s evere complications, the management of which can be extremely challenging t o the burn surgeon. A case report of an adult male with burns (18% total bo dy surface area) who developed an acute unexpected thrombocytopenia crisis (2 x 10(9) l(-1)) on day 3 followed by disseminated intravascular coagulati on is presented. The various etiological factors and possible mechanisms le ading to thrombocytopenia in burns are discussed. Minor burns may present a cute major complications in the presence of other thrombocytopenic factors like trauma and sepsis and thrombocytopenia by it self can be a good indica tor of sub-clinical infection. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.