Manejo inicial de la quemadura en urgencias: criterios de evaluación, derivación y tratamiento actualizado

Abstract

Burns are a common situation that physicians must attend in the emergency room, being its presentation variable: from home-based management to life-threatening cases. This implies a significant personal and social burden. In order to obtain good results it is mandatory to have a basic knowledge of its pathophysiology and clinical presentation to assert its severity and correct management.

Since 2007, in Chile, severe burns are part of its “Garantías Explícitas en Salud”, leading through clear protocols to improve survival in cases determined before as exceptional.

This article seeks to provide the information needed by any emergency room healthcare team in order to manage the initial stages of burn patients, and proceed with the right management to define the conditions to continue their care in an opportune way, either in the same institution or refer them to a specialized center.