Prompt neutralization of traumatic hyperthermic factors of burn injuries in children at the stages of selfhelp, mutual assistance and first aid
Authors:   National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya, Ukraine, Nagaychuk V.I. ,   Municipal Non-profit Enterprise «Vinnytsya Regional Clinical Hospital Vinnytsya Regional Council», Ukraine, Chornopischuk R.M. ,   National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya, Ukraine,   Municipal Non-profit Enterprise «Vinnytsya Regional Clinical Hospital Vinnytsya Regional Council», Ukraine, Nazarchuk O.A. ,   National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya, Ukraine,   Municipal Non-profit Enterprise «Vinnytsya Regional Clinical Hospital Vinnytsya Regional Council», Ukraine
Published: May 2021

Occupying a leading position in the structure of general injuries, burn injuries in children remain an urgent issue of combustiology in particular and medicine in general. At the same time, many issues related to the organization of first aid to such patients still remain unregulated. To this end, a study aimed at conducting a comparative analysis of the clinical effectiveness of emergency care for children with burn injuries, including the use of the suggested algorithm, was conducted. Materials and methods. 153 cases of burn injuries with boiling water of IIab–III degree on the area of 10–40% of the body surface in children aged from 8 months to 16 years, who were treated at the Clinical Center for Thermal Injury and Plastic Surgery of the Municipal Non-profit Enterprise «Vinnytsia Regional Pirogov Clinical Hospital Vinnytsya Regional Council» in the period of 2015–2020 were analyzed. All patients underwent comprehensive diagnosis and treatment including surgery. Depending on the nature of first aid, children were divided into two groups: patients of the main group (n=97) underwent prompt neutralization of the traumatic effects of exogenous hyperthermic factors on the injured areas from the moment the injury was sustained. Childrenin the control group (n=56) sought help on the 5th–14th day after the injury. The duration of prompt neutralization did not exceed 15 minutes or was not performed at all. It was often combined with the irrational use of pharmacological agents and folk remedies. Results. Comparative analysis of the course of the disease in children of the main group and the comparison group reliably confirmed the benefits of prompt neutralization of traumatic effects of hyperthermic exogenous and endogenous damage factors in burn injuries manifested by a more favorable course of the disease, faster improvement, lower local and systemic inflammatory response, shorter hospital stay with less occurrence of various complications, repeated surgical interventions, better aesthetic and functional results. Conclusions. The obtained results objectively confirmed the importance and effectiveness of the suggested system of organization of care for children with burn injuries, especially at the stages of self-help, mutual assistance and first aid. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of these Institutes. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. The authors declare no conflicts of interests. Key words: burn injuries, children, first aid, traumatic hyperthermic agents, neutralization.