Optimizing Emergency Management to Reduce Morbidity and Mortality in Pediatric Burn Patients (Trauma CME)

Optimizing Emergency Management to Reduce Morbidity and Mortality in Pediatric Burn Patients (Trauma CME) is organized by EB Medicine.

Publication Date: June 30, 2020
CME Expiration Date: June 30, 2023

About This Issue:
Burn injuries in children are a frequent cause of ED visits. Although the majority of pediatric burn injuries are minor, the relative risk of morbidity for pediatric patients with burn injuries is higher than for adult burn patients. When pediatric patients present with serious burn injury, appropriate airway management, fluid resuscitation, and disposition can reduce morbidity and mortality. Minor burn injuries require wound care, pain management, and assessment for antibiotics and tetanus prophylaxis. This supplement provides evidence-based recommendations for the evaluation and management of pediatric patients with burn injuries of all types and severity. You will learn:
• The methods for classification of burn injuries, including by depth, severity, and total body surface area affected, and how classification informs management decisions
• Why the accurate calculation of total body surface area is important, and how to make the calculation for children using the Lund-Browder chart
• The benefit of treating burns with cool running tap water
• When to consider intubation for patients with suspected inhalation injury
• Commonly used formulas for calculating resuscitative fluid requirements
• Wound care techniques for superficial and partial-thickness burns, including blister aspiration, topical therapies, and wound dressings
• How to assess pain in pediatric burn patients and choose appropriate medication for pain control
• The special management considerations for circumferential burns, chemical injuries, and electrical injuries
• How to recognize burn injuries that suggest nonaccidental trauma
• The indications for transfer of pediatric burn patients to an accredited burn center
• The current evidence for burn treatment using Vitamin C, vasopressors, and steroids

CME Objectives:
Upon completion of this activity, you should be able to: (1) clinically examine and categorize burns; (2) manage pain and fluid resuscitation in the burn patient; (3) appropriately disposition burn patients based on guidelines and follow criteria for transfer to a burn center; and (4) recognize patterns of injury consistent with nonaccidental trauma.