Retrospective analysis of pediatric cases-treated in Çukurova University medical faculty burn unit between 1993-2013

Purpose: Burn is one of the most traumatic injuries of human being and pediatric patients are effected dramatically according to their delicate physiologic properties. Management of complicated and unique problems of acute period and morbidities of late period can be aciheved in experienced centers. In this study we analysed 1155 pediatric (0-18 years old) patient hospitalized in our burn unit between 1993-2013 retrospectively aimed to find the changes in demographic distributions and treatment outcomes. Material and Methods: We evaluated 1155 pediatric (0-18) patient followed up up between 1993-2013 in our clinic, which data were correctly available, according to years, ages, gender, cause and extent of burn, burn degree, months, seasons, the place of residence, the first referraled health center, interval from injury to arrival at our burn center, treatment modality, treatment outcomes and mortality reasons. We analysed the results using the SPSS 17. 0 programme. Logistic Regression analysis is used to find out the risk factors of mortality and statistical significance value was presumed as 0. 05. Results: The mean total body surface area burned was %21 and the mean age was 6.2. The most common etiology was scald burn. The most common etiology of mortalities were flame burns. Mortality rate was % 20.3 and statistically significant decrease noticed during the years. The most common mortality reason was sepsis. Deaths because of the acute renal failure and the gastrointestinal hemorrhage were also decreased. Conclusion: According to results age, extend of burn and degree of burn are found to be the indipendent risk factor of mortality. The increase of the burned surface area was increasing the mortality risk 1.2 times while the increase of degree was effecting 10.1 times. Burn injury is one of the public health care problems which needs spesific programming, especially in children. This problem can not be solved without specialized centers and multidisiplinay approach. Public education and precautions must be the first and most important step of burn management. Keywords: Pediatric, Burn, Mortality, Risk factor, Burn etiology