Comparing characteristics and outcome between high and low voltage electrical burn injuries.

Ngo Tuan Hung1, Nguyen Nhu Lam1,, Ngo Minh Duc1
1 Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital

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Abstract

This study aimed to compare characteristics and outcomes between high and low-voltage electrical burns.
A retrospective study was conducted on 1205 electrical burn patients admitted to the Vietnam National Burn Hospital over five years (2015 - 2019).
The results showed that electrical burns accounted for 6.39% of total admitted burn patients. Of them, the high voltage electrical burn group accounted for 69.46%, mainly adults (89.96%) and due to work-related accidents (84.83%). Meanwhile, patients with low voltage electrical injuries were mainly children (50.82%), due to daily life accidents (55.16%) with a significant rate living in a rural area, mainly seen in summer, autumn and late admission (≥ 24h after burn) as compared to high-voltage electrical burn group (p < 0.001).
The burn extent, deep burn area, trauma incidence (3.58% vs. 1.36%; p < 0.05) were remarkably higher in the high voltage electrical burns group. In addition, compared with the low voltage electrical burns, patients with high voltage burns had a significantly higher number of surgical interventions, the incidence of extremity amputation or join removal (28.02% vs. 1.09%; p = 0.001; OR = 25.9) and longer length of hospital stay (35 vs. 25 days; p = 0.01). Moreover, complication rates, such as septic shock, multiple organ failure and mortality rates were also significantly higher in high voltage electrical burn patients (p < 0.01).

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References

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