Retrospective Analysis of Patients Treated for Volatile Substance Burn Injuries

Abstract

INTRODUCTION[|]Volatile substance (VS) abuse has been defined as the use of chemical substances for non-medical purposes to achieve alterations in psychological functioning. Injury caused by VS abuse is an independent injury in and of itself; however, it is often combined with cutaneous burns, which are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to analyze the management of VS burn injuries referred to a burn center.[¤]METHODS[|]The records of 67 patients with VS burns who were hospitalized in a tertiary educating and training hospital burn center between July 2012 and July 2017 were analyzed in a retrospective study after receiving institutional ethical approval. The age, gender, injury type, and case management were retrospectively studied.[¤]RESULTS[|]All of the patients were young men, and most had a superficial burn injury. The length of stay in hospital ranged from 3 days to 22 days. In all, 8 patients (11.9%) were followed-up in the burn intensive care unit. All of the patients were treated with conservative management, and there was no mortality.[¤]DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION[|]Preventing the abuse of inhalants can prevent the occurrence of this type of burn. The development and evaluation of strategies for the treatment of chronic abusers and for the prevention of inhalant use are major challenges for the future.[¤]

Keywords

• burns
• intensive care
• volatile substances.