Topical Heparin: A Better Sanative For Burns Patient than Conventional Treatment

Abstract

Background: Burns trauma represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Tackling the pain and providing a better healing with conventional therapies have been compared to that by using topical heparin application in < 40% burns. Aim and Objectives: To compare pain score, healing, duration of hospital stay after applying topical heparin and conventional treatment for burns < 40%. Material and Methods: A total of 80 patients were included in the study and divided into 2 groups Heparin (H) and Control (C) group with 40 patients in each group. H group received unfractioned Heparin 25,000 IU / 5ml and C group received silver based antimicrobial cream and paraffin gauze. Results: Maximum number of patients belonged to the age group (15-35years = 65.5%). The maximum number of patients who sustained thermal injuries was from 11-20% (23 patients) and 31-40% (22 patients). The patients in H group had a significant decrease in their pain score (p <0.001) when compared to C group. The days of hospitalization was reduced significantly in patients receiving topical Heparin therapy when compared with the C group. Majority of the patients in H group (36 patients, 90%) had only 1-2 doses/day of analgesic medication administered to them. Patients in C group (26 patients, 65%) had to be given 3-4 divided doses/day of analgesia. Conclusions: From this study it was concluded that topical application of Heparin reduces pain, duration of hospital stay, rates of wound infection, cost and time required for dressing.

Keywords

• burns
• pain
• topical heparin