The effect of delayed transfer on burn,s patient outcomes

Abstract

Introduction: burn injuries are unique form of trauma.  Patients with burn injuries are often initially transported to centers without burn capabilities, requiring subsequent transfer to a higher level of care, this process delayed in different ways.

Aim: comparing between patients who direct admit to burn centre and patients who took more than 12 h to reach this centre without primary resusciation  regarding mortality rate, length of stay, number of operations and TBSA burned for each group.

Materials and Methods: Retrospective cross sectional study of 173 patients at Almowassat university hospital between 1/12/2021 to 1/9/2022.The patients divided into two groups: The first one: the direct Admit and the second group: transfer group. The outcomes of intrest were mortality, length of stay at hospital,number of operations and TBSA burned for each group.

Results: 173pts divided into two group: the first one(direct admit):84 pt, the second (transfer group):89 pt . Mortality rate was significant bigger in 2nd group (32.5%) group one(23.8%), length of stay was bigger in transfer group compared with direct admit (13.7,9.7days)respectively. Number of operations were almost similar between groups with approximately 1

operation for each pt. Median TBSA burned  was 28.8% for transfer group and 22.8% for direct one.  

Conclusion: mortality rate and length of stay were significant bigger in transfer group who took more than 12 h to reach The burn centre, education campaigns should be conducted to rise the ability to deal with burn injuries especially in rural areas.