Thermal burns post abdominal surgery

Sinem Gultekin¹, George Miller¹,
¹Victorian Adult Burns Service, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Purpose

Operations involving the abdomen can affect the cutaneous sensation of the abdominal wall. Diminished sensation leaves patients vulnerable to post operative complications, such as burns. There is a paucity of literature on thermal burns post abdominal surgery. We present the cases of two patients who presented to a Level 1 burns centre and underwent operative management of full thickness thermal burns to the abdomen following elective abdominal surgery.

Case Presentation

Two female patients presented to a Level 1 state burns centre following abdominal surgery performed externally. A 33-year-old female presented with a 2% TBSA full thickness thermal burn from application of a heat pack to the skin following cosmetic abdominoplasty. The second case was that of a 37-year-old female patient who suffered 1% TBSA full thickness thermal burns from heat pack application following hysterectomy.
Both patients required operative management to debride the full thickness burns. One patient required debridement and reconstruction with a skin graft. This patient subsequently underwent tissue expansion for secondary reconstruction of the grafted defect to the peri-umbilical defect. The other patient underwent excision and immediate primary closure as the wound was suitable to closure with recruitment of adjacent abdominal skin.

Conclusion

Burns in the post-operative setting following abdominal surgery is a preventable complication. Post-operative sensory changes are expected and warrant education of the medical teams, staff, carers and patients themselves. This preventable complication of cutaneous burns following elective abdominal surgery can be eliminated effectively if this knowledge is factored into peri-operative management strategies and protocols.

Biography

Sinem Gultekin is a current unaccredited plastic surgery registrar in Hobart. She completed a rotation at the Victorian Adult Burns Service which stemmed her interest in Burns.
Mr George Miller is a fully qualified Plastic & Reconstructive surgeon. He has a particular clinical interest in Burns, hand & upper limb surgery, and microsurgical reconstruction. He currently holds a public appointment as a Consultant Plastic and Burns Surgeon at Alfred Health.