OET Reading Part A - Management of BURNS

 OET Reading Part A 

Management of Burns


Text A

Burn depth 

Burn injuries are classified according to how much tissue damage is present.

1. Superficial partial thickness burns (also known as first and second degree)

    Present in most burn wounds. Injuries do not extend through        all layers of skin. 

2. Full thickness burns (also known as third degree)

   * Burn extends into the subcutaneous tissue.

   * Underlying tissue may appear pale or blackened

   * Remaining skin may be dry and white, brown or black with          no blisters

   * Healing associated with considerable contraction and                    scarring

3. Mixed burns

    Burns are frequently of mixed depth. The clinician should            estimate the average depth by the appearance and the                    presence of sensation.

   Resuscitation should be based on the total of second and third       degree burns,  and local treatment should be based on the             burn  thickness at any specific site.


Text B

Fluid resuscitation

If the burn is over 15% of the TBSA (Total Body Surface Area) in or 10% in children, intravenous fluids should be started as soon as possible on scene, although transfer should not be delayed by more than two cannulation attempts. For physiological reasons, the threshold is closer to 10% in the elderly (more than 60 years).

Suggested regimen for fluid resuscitation 

Adults

Resuscitation fluid alone (first 24 hours)

  * Give 3-4 ml Hartmann's solution (3ml in superficial and               partial thickness burns/ 4ml in full thickness burns or those           with associate inhalation injury) per kg body weight /%                 TBSA burned. Half of this volume is given in the first 8 hours       after injury and the remaining in the second 16-hour period. 

Children

Resuscitation fluid as above plus maintenance (0.45% saline with 5% dextrose)

   * Give 100 ml/kg body weight plus 50ml/kg for the next 10kg            body weight plus 20ml/kg for each extra kg.


Text C 

Management of burns

1. Assess the patient status: airway, breathing, circulation, IV access.

2. Assess the burn depth and extent. A sheet can be placed on            burns during this time. 

3. Cooling: Remove jewellery or hot clothing. Limit                            inflammation and pain by using cool water, cool saline soaked      gauze or a large sheet in the case of a large wound. Cool the          wound not the patient taking care not to cause hypothermia. 

4. Pain control: Acetaminophen usually helpful but may need to      use opiates such as codeine.

5. Check immunization status and update tetanus if necessary.

6. If possible begin fluid resuscitation.

7. Debridement of blisters - there are are some differences of            opinion regarding breaking of blisters.

    a. Some suggest leaving blisters in tact because act as a                      barrier to infection and others debride all blisters.

    b. Most agree that necrotic skin should be removed following            blister raptures.

8.  Application of antibiotics in the form of ointment. Should             always be used to prevent infection in any non-superficial             burns.

9. Apply suitable dressing to the wound area 


Text D

Adult Analgesic Guidelines

The following table provides recommended short term (less than 72 hours) oral analgesia guidelines for the management. Aim for pain scores 4 or less at rest. Analgesia should be reviewed after 72 hours and adjusted according to pain scores. Patient management should be guided by individual case and clinical judgment.


Pain score elicited from patient (scale 1-10)

_____________________________________________________________________

Mild pain-                 Moderate pain-          Severe pain- 

Pain score 1-3           Pain score 4-6           Pain score 7-10

_________________________________________________


Recommended-        Recommended-          Recommended- 

analgesia                 analgesia + col 1          Analgesia + 1=2


Paracetamol           Tramadol 50-100          Strong opioids  

1gm 4x daily           4x daily                         Oxycontin SR 100


And if needed:       If above unsuccessful    Endone, 2 -4 hourly

Naproxen 250        Endone 5 -10 mg (2-4    as needed

2xdaily.                  hourly


                             Review in 72 hours          Review in 72 hours.

                                                                       If pain can't be                                                                                     controlled, consider                                                                             admission. 


Paediatric Analgesia Guidelines

  * Paracetamol (15 mg/kg orally or per rectum (PR)

  * Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

     * naproxen 5-10 mg (max 500 mg) 12-hourly orally or PR

     * ibuprofen 2.5 -10 mg (max 600mg) 6-8 hourly orally

  * Opioids  ( Codeine 0.5- 1mg/kg orally) 


                                                    Answers 

Strategy: 

Preparation: 2 minutes (30 seconds for each text)

* Quickly identify the Title.
Section Heading
Sub-heading of each text - A,B,C& D.


* Look for the sign post keywords or phrases, which include:

1. Topic sentence of each text
2. Abbreviations
3. Names 
4. Contrary conjunctions  
5. Modal verbs
6. Negatives
7. Cause-effect
8. Percent- percentage
9. Scale
10. Sequential expressions
11. Time Expressions
12. Adjective.

What does Text A,B,C and D deal with:

Text A:  Classification of Burns
Text B:  Resuscitation (= treatment)
Text C:  Management of Burns.
Text D:  Guidelines.

For each question, 1-5, decide which text (A, B, C, or D) the information come from. Write the letter A,B,C or D in the space provided. You may use any letter more than once.


In which text can you find information about

1. age-related considerations for initial treatment of burns injuries?          

Ans: B (Re: Topic sentence of Text B says, "if the burn area is over 15% of the TBSA in adults or 10% in children....")

2. the risk involved in certain treatments?

Ans: C (Re: "risk" implies "risk management",  which is discussed in C)

3. when to start thinking about specialist treatment options?

Ans: D ("specialist treatment" implies  'Guidelines')

4. treatment informed by patient self-assessment?

Ans: D ("self-assessment" implies 'score elicited' discussed in text D, the heading of the table)

5. how to categorise the severity of a burn?

Ans: A ( Re: Topic sentence of Text A, "burn injuries are classified......"  'classified' = 'categorised'


 How to Answer Questions 6-22.


Text A

Burn depth 

Burn injuries are classified according to how much tissue damage is present. ( Topic sentence)

1. Superficial partial thickness burns (also known as first and second degree)

    Present in most burn wounds. Injuries do not extend through        all layers of skin. 

2. Full thickness burns (also known as third degree)

   * Burn extends into the subcutaneous tissue.

   * Underlying tissue may appear pale or blackened

   * Remaining skin may be dry and white, brown or black with          no blisters

   * Healing associated with considerable contraction and                    scarring

3. Mixed burns

    Burns are frequently of mixed depth. The clinician should            estimate the average depth by the appearance and the                    presence of sensation.

   Resuscitation should be based on the total of second and third       degree burns,  and local treatment should be based on the             burn  thickness at any specific site.

Text B

Fluid resuscitation

If the burn is over 15% of the TBSA (Total Body Surface Area) in or 10% in children, intravenous fluids should be started as soon as possible on scene, although transfer should not be delayed by more than two cannulation attempts. For physiological reasons, the threshold is closer to 10% in the elderly (more than 60 years).

Suggested regimen for fluid resuscitation 

Adults

Resuscitation fluid alone (first 24 hours)

  * Give 3-4 ml Hartmann's solution (3ml in superficial and               partial thickness burns/ 4ml in full thickness burns or those           with associate inhalation injury) per kg body weight /%                 TBSA burned. Half of this volume is given in the first 8 hours       after injury and the remaining in the second 16-hour period. 

Children

Resuscitation fluid as above plus maintenance (0.45% saline with 5% dextrose)

   * Give 100 ml/kg body weight plus 50ml/kg for the next 10kg            body weight plus 20ml/kg for each extra kg.


Text C 

Management of burns

1. Assess the patient status: airway, breathing, circulation, IV access.

2. Assess the burn depth and extent. A sheet can be placed on            burns during this time. 

3. Cooling: Remove jewellery or hot clothing. Limit                            inflammation and pain by using cool water, cool saline soaked      gauze or a large sheet in the case of a large wound. Cool the          wound not the patient taking care not to cause hypothermia. 

4. Pain control: Acetaminophen usually helpful but may need to      use opiates such as codeine.

5. Check immunization status and update tetanus if necessary.

6. If possible begin fluid resuscitation.

7. Debridement of blisters - there are are some differences of            opinion regarding breaking of blisters.

    a. Some suggest leaving blisters in tact because act as a                      barrier to infection and others debride all blisters.

    b. Most agree that necrotic skin should be removed following            blister raptures.

8.  Application of antibiotics in the form of ointment. Should             always be used to prevent infection in any non-superficial             burns.

9. Apply suitable dressing to the wound area 


Text D

Adult Analgesic Guidelines

The following table provides recommended short term (less than 72 hours) oral analgesia guidelines for the management. Aim for pain scores 4 or less at rest. Analgesia should be reviewed after 72 hours and adjusted according to pain scores. Patient management should be guided by individual case and clinical judgment.


Question 6 - 13

Complete each of the questions, 6 -13, with a word or a short phrase from the texts. Each answer may include words, numbers or both. 


[1. Identify which text the question refers to.

2. Go to the text and look for the answers using synomymous language.]


6. Classification (Text A) of burn injuries depends on the amount of ................... caused.  Ans: tissue damage.

[Explanation.  Text A .Text A. Topic sentence. "Burn injuries are classified according to  (= depends) how much  (amount of)  tissue damage is present (caused)."

7. Patients recovering from third degree burns (Text A) are likely to experience a great deal of shrinkage and ................... of their skin.

Ans: scarring.

[ Explanation.: Text A. Refer 'third degree burns'.  " * Healing (= 'recovering') associated with considerable (='a great deal of')  contraction ('shrinkage') and scarring". ]


8. When evaluating mixed depth burns, (Text A) you  should take into account how the burn looks and whether there is .................. in the affected area. Ans: sensation.

[Explanation: refer 'mixed depth  burns'. "The clinician (= you) should estimate (=evaluating) the average depth by the appearance (looks) and the presence of (= there is) sensation"

 

9. You should cool burn injuries (Text C) by taking off any ................. or jewelry that the patient is wearing.                       Ans: hot clothing

Explanation. Cooling: Remove (taking off any)  jewellery or hot clothing. 



10. When cooling the wound, (Text C)make sure that you don't put the patient at risk of ................... Ans: hypothermia

Explanation: Cool the wound (cooling the wound), not the patient, taking care (make sure) not to cause (at risk of) hypothermia.

 

11. The patient may require a ................... booster, depending on when they were last immunized. Ans: tetanus

Explanation: " require a .... booster" shows that it refers to     Text C.

"Check immunisation status (= the patient may require a booster and update) tetanus"


12. You should consider leaving ............ undisturbed, as these may prevent infection. Ans: blisters


13. You should apply ointments containing to all deeper burns.

Ans: antibiotics





_________________________________________

Should you have any queries, please contact
Dr Vijay C Nair

WhatsApp no: 7356 85 8467.


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