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. 2016 Jan 10;6(1):1-10.
eCollection 2016.

The management of pain associated with wound care in severe burn patients in Spain

Antonio Mendoza  1 , Fernando L Santoyo  1 , Alberto Agulló  2 , José L Fenández-Cañamaque  3 , Carmen Vivó  4
Affiliations

The management of pain associated with wound care in severe burn patients in Spain

Antonio Mendoza et al. Int J Burns Trauma. .

Abstract

Objective: To describe the management of pain prevention associated with burn care.

Methods: Multi-centre, observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study performed in 4 burn units in Spain.

Results: A total of 55 patients undergoing 64 procedures were analysed. Burns were classified as severe (90.4%), third-degree (78.2%) and caused by thermal agents (81.8%). Background analgesia consisted of non-opioid drugs (87.5%) and opioids (54.7%) [morphine (20.3%), morphine and fentanyl (14.1%) or fentanyl monotherapy (15.6%)]. Burn care was performed by experienced nurses (96.9%); 36.5% followed guidelines. The mean duration of procedures was 44 minutes (Statistical Deviation, SD: 20.2) and the mean duration of pain was 27 minutes (SD: 44.6). Procedural pain was primarily managed with opioid analgesics: fentanyl monotherapy and in combination (84%) and fentanyl monotherapy (48%) administered sublingually (89.1%). Patients described pain as different to usual baseline pain (97%), with a mean maximum intensity score of 4.2 points (SD: 3.3) on the VAS scale and a 34% increase in the intensity of pain. The mean patient and healthcare professional satisfaction score per procedure was 6/10 (SD: 1.9) and 5.5/10 (SD: 1.7), respectively.

Conclusion: The results of the study describe the management of pain associated with burn care in clinical practice, helping optimise pain control.

Keywords: Burns; analgesia; pain management; wounds.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Classification of burns based on agent, location, depth and severity.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Analgesic medication used in baseline pain management.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Analgesic medication used in the management of pain related to wound care procedures.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Routes of administration of fentanyl.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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