An Evidence-Based Approach To Pediatric Burns

Granger, Joyce P. MD, FAAP
Estrada, Cristina M. MD
Abramo, Thomas J. MD, FAAP, FACEP
Grant, Vincent J. MD
Tothy, Alison MD

¹Authors
²Pediatric Fellow in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, The Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TNK
³Associate Fellowship Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine; Assistant Professor, Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, The Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN
⁴Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine; Professor, Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, The Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN
⁵Peer Reviewers
⁶Assistant Professor, Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary; Medical Director, Pediatric Trauma, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
⁷Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Director of Quality and Service Excellence, Department of Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Date of original release: January 1, 2009

Date of most recent review: December 10, 2008

Termination date: January 1, 2012

Medium: Print and Online

Method of participation: Print or online answer form and evaluation

Prior to beginning this activity, see “Physician CME Information” on the back page.

Pediatric Emergency Medicine Practice 6(1):p 1-17, January 2009.

It is a typical busy winter day in the ED when the local EMS presents with a 28-month-old with extensive upper body and facial burns obtained at home. His anxious mother recalls that about 1 hour prior to arrival she heated a bowl of water in the microwave for macaroni and placed it on the counter. She reports that the patient's 4-year-old sister pulled the bowl off the counter and the water fell onto the patient. The patient exhibits approximately 30% total body surface area burned with blistering and denuding of his skin. His injuries include the left side of the face, neck, chest, arms, and back. According to the EMS crew, he began to have some wheezing en route and arrived with a nebulized albuterol treatment with 100% FiO₂ flowing via facemask. The patient is crying and is not consolable. What are the priorities in the initial evaluation and management of this child? (SeeFigure 1, page 2.)

An Evidence-Based Approach To Pediatric Burns

Figure 1. Pediatric Scalding Burn