[Evaluation of severe burns managed in intensive care unit].

BACKGROUND This study designed to evaluate the results of the patients with severe burns treated in the intensive care unit. METHODS Between May 1997 and May 2002, fifty-four patients who had thermal and electrical burns managed at the Intensive Care Unit of General Surgery of Istanbul University Medical Faculty. RESULTS Forty-five of patients were males and nine were females with mean age of 39 years. The mean hospital stay was 26 days. The mean total body surface area burns was 60%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in wound cultures at the 68% of patients. 83% of cases died. Mortality was due to sepsis in 66% of patients. CONCLUSION Besides early debridmant, early enteral feeding, woundcare and intensive care unit support, establishing of specific burncenters may reduce morbidity and mortality rates in severe burns.