Pulmonary embolism in burns, is there an evidence based prophylactic recommendation? Case report and review of literature

Raul Sebastian; Omar Ghanem; Frank DiRoma; Stephen M Milner; Leigh A Price

doi:10.1016/j.burns.2014.06.018

Pulmonary embolism in burns, is there an evidence based prophylactic recommendation? Case report and review of literature

Burns. 2015 Mar;41(2):e4-7. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2014.06.018. Epub 2014 Aug 10.

Authors

Raul Sebastian¹, Omar Ghanem², Frank DiRoma¹, Stephen M Milner¹, Leigh A Price³

Affiliations

¹ Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Burn Center, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States.
² Medstar Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States.
³ Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Burn Center, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States. Electronic address: lprice13@jhmi.edu.

PMID: 25115669
DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2014.06.018

Abstract

Burn patients exhibit an acquired hypercoagulable state with increased risk of venous thromboembolism. Currently, no randomized control study assessing the efficacy of chemical venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in burn patients has been performed. We present a case of a morbidly (body mass index>54kg/m(2)) obese patient with 18% total body surface area (TBSA) burn who developed a VTE and a non-fatal submassive pulmonary embolus (PE). We will be reviewing the current consensus of venous thrombosis prophylaxis in burn patients and briefly discuss the treatment of PE in this population.

Keywords: Acquired hypercoagulopathy; Blood clot; Burn wounds; Deep venous thrombosis; Pulmonary embolism; Venous thromboembolism.

Publication types

Case Reports
Review

MeSH terms

Adult
Anticoagulants / therapeutic use*
Burns / complications*
Enoxaparin / therapeutic use*
Evidence-Based Medicine
Female
Humans
Obesity / complications
Pulmonary Embolism / complications
Pulmonary Embolism / prevention & control*
Risk Factors
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Anticoagulants
Enoxaparin