First Forty Eight Hours
When reached to the hospital, the patient is admitted directly to the burn Treatment Center. Firstly Breathing is maintained. May be pulse oximeter set up with the patient to know the amount of oxygen in the body. Injuries person with burns to their face, neck may require a breathing tube in their mouth or nose.Patients are not able to talk because the tube into their mouth or nose.
An intravenous (IV) is also need for proper treatment of the burned patient. The IV delivers firstly extra fluid and medication into the body. The fluid is needed to prevent dehydration and shock. A patient will have more than one IV line. In 48 hours this process will reverse-fluid comes back into the bloodstream and the swelling goes down.
This specialized line is placed in an artery to record the patient's blood pressure on a monitor. Blood samples can be easily and frequently drawn from this line in order to decrease multiple needle sticks.
The patient may be placed on a cardiac monitor to observe the heart rate and rhythm at all times. Alarms and limits are set on these monitors to notify the nurse immediately of any change.A Foley catheter will be placed into the bladder to monitor kidney function so IV rates can be adjusted appropriately.
For preventing nausea and vomiting a NG tube may be used into the patient's nose and down into the stomach to aid in removing stomach contents. Because of the stress of the burn injury, stomach activity decreases and the patient is unable to digest food or fluid.
The patient should not take anything to eat or drink during the first twenty-four hours. Later. During the hospitalization, a tube will be replaced with a small pliable tube to take high protein-high calorie feeding.
If blood flow is continue , an escharotomy is made through the burned part to allow a reduce of pressure.
Shaved hair is within two to three inches of the burn wound. Burns that circle around the torso, leg, or arm completely (otherwise known as circumferential) may act as a tourniquet on the limb and obstruct blood flow.
After cleansing with soap and water, antibiotic bandages are applied.
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