Further Experience and Information in Management of High Power Electrical Burns, (A Study in a general hospital in Iran)

Abstract

Aim: Electrical burns are classified as high-voltage and low-voltage injuries. This retrospective study investigated high power electrical burn patients between 2003 and 2005 which showed a total number of 100. Materials and Methods: Compared to our last study between 2000 and 2001, the number of high power electrical burns has been dramatically increased. Due to high morbidity and mortality rates of high power electrical burns we paid our attention to study these cases and alleviate our treatment strategies. The study was Retrospective and SSPE software was used for statistical analysis. Results : In the vast majority of high voltage electrical burns to the limbs and chest, fasciotomy is indicated as the first emergency procedure. After the patient’s general condition has stabilized, we perform early excision of nonviable tissues. Amputation may be performed as an emergency, or after demarcation lines become clear. The mean age of the patients was 44+-10 years. All of them were male and mostly worked for the ministry of power. High power burns are important due to multiple significant factors involving these victims. Damage to vital organs, fractures, head and neck traumas and undetectable damage to spinal cord, only contribute a small amount of many complications workings on high power burns. Conclusion: Our experience indicates that, in Iran, middle age men are at highest risk for electrical burns, mainly due to occupational hazards and lack of proper training. The encouraging finding in our study is the relatively low mortality rate in the high power electrical burn patients, which on the other hand, shows that our center is developing treatment strategies for these cases successfully.