Characteristics Of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Lpg) Related Burn Injuries In Hasan Sadikin Bandung General Hospital.

Abstract

The number of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) related burn injuries has increased over recent years in Indonesia, since the conversion of kerosene to LPG in 2007 (government policy). Based on studies in India and China, LPG-related burn injuries have become a serious public health issue. A 5-year retrospective study was conducted from medical records of patients with LPG-related burn injuries. The data included age, gender, place, occupation, LPG tank size, mechanism, burn classification, burn site and concurrent injury. A total of 169 patients with LPG-related burn were admitted. The yearly incidence was in the range of 24-46% of all burn injury cases. They mostly occurred in males (66.2%) aged 36-55 years (43.1%). The most common place was the home (83.4%) and the most common occupation was merchant (32%). LPG leakage (94.7%) was the main cause of burn, followed by LPG explosion (5.3%). A 3-kilogram LPG tank (96.4%) was the most common cause. Patient burn classification was mostly major burns (62.1%), with the most common site being the head and neck (73%), and concurrent with inhalational injury (16%). Our study showed that the increasing number of LPG-related burn injuries is alarming. The majority of the patients were males in the productive age and they suffered major burns. Some of them suffered inhalation injury that increases the risk of mortality. Since LPG leakage was the main cause and the most common place was the home, there must be regulation with government related prevention strategies.