Citation

Ross E, Burris A, Murphy JT. J. Pediatr. Surg. 2014; 49(3): 469-473.

Affiliation

Pediatric Surgery, Children's Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX USA; Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA. Electronic address: Joseph.murphy@childrens.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2013.07.012

PMID

24650480

Abstract

PURPOSE: While obesity is associated with increased mortality and decreased functional outcomes in adult burn patients, the ramifications of larger than average body size in the pediatric burn population are less well understood. The present study examines whether obesity was associated with poor outcomes following pediatric burn injuries.

METHODS: Thermal injury data for patients≤18years of age admitted to a Level III burn center over ten years (n=536) was analyzed. Obesity was defined as≥95th percentile of weight for height according to the WHO growth charts (<2years of age) or BMI for age according to the CDC growth charts (2-18years of age). Outcomes were compared between thermally injured obese (n=154) and non-obese (n=382) children. All data was collected in accordance with IRB regulations.

RESULTS: Obese and non-obese thermally-injured children did not differ in TBSA, percentage of full thickness burn, or overall mortality. However, these groups were significantly different with respect to age (obese=7.16±0.46years, non-obese=9.38±0.32years, p<0.001) and days requiring mechanical ventilation (obese=4.89±1.3days, non-obese=2.67±0.49days, p<0.05). For thermally injured children admitted to the BICU without inhalation injury (n=175); the obese (n=46) and non-obese (n=129) did not differ significantly with respect to age, TBSA, percentage of full thickness burn or other outcome measures. However, significant differences between these groups were noted for ICU LOS (obese=18.59±5.18days, non-obese=9.51±1.82days, p<0.05) and number of days requiring mechanical ventilation (obese=11.65±3.91days, non-obese=3.92±0.85days, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: These data show thermally-injured obese pediatric patients required longer and more intensive medical support in the form of BICU care and respiratory intervention. Counter to findings in adult populations, differences in mortality were not observed. Collectively, these findings suggest obesity as a risk factor for increased morbidity in the pediatric burn population.

Language: en