Citation

Yabanoglu H, Aytac HO, Turk E, Karagulle E, Belli S, Sakallioglu AE, Tarim MA, Moray G, Haberal M. Int. Surg. 2015; 100(2): 304-308.

Affiliation

Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery and Burn and Fire Disasters Institute, Ankara, Turkey.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Minerva Medica)

DOI

10.9738/INTSURG-D-13-00189.1

PMID

25692434

Abstract

Our aim was to assess demographic and clinical characteristics of patients treated at our units who attempted suicide by self-incineration, and to compare the results of burns with or without catalyzer use. Twenty patients who attempted suicide by self-incineration were examined in terms of clinical and demographic characteristics. Average age of the study population was 35 years (range 13-85 years). Average percentage of total body surface area burn was 53% (9%-100%). Six (30%) patients used gasoline and 5 (25%) used paint thinner in order to catalyze burning. Of these 11 patients who used a catalyzer, 5 (45.4%) had inhalation injury and 7 (63.6%) died. Among 9 patients who did not use any catalyzer, 1 (11.1%) had inhalation injury and 4 (44.4%) died. In general, inhalation injury was diagnosed in 6 patients (30%) while 11 (55%) patients died. A high morbidity and mortality rate was found in patients who used a catalyzer.

Language: en