Burn Care for General Surgeons and General Practitioners

This textbook on burn care is focused specifically on the needs of a surgeon. It provides a “how to do” text that presents the practical strategies for initial resuscitation, skin grafting, burn-specific critical care and ultimately guide the surgeon for the best outcomes for the burn surgeon. It provides the reader with basic pathophysiology but avoids a detailed review of the molecular science of burns. Guidelines for basic care with the chapters covering the timeline used for each patient spanning from initial resuscitation (ABCs) to managing their re-socialization are provided. The text covers the key components to the initial management of the burn patient including airway, breathing and circulation. The reader is introduced to the metabolic changes of a major burn and how nutrition and pharmacologic manipulation affects these systemic effects of a burn injury. The management of burn sepsis as well as the basic concepts of wound healing of the different depths and severity of burns are covered. Another chapter covers the basic techniques of skin grafting, rehabilitation and reconstruction with a focus to optimize the cosmetic and functional outcome of the burn. Special chapters cover management of outpatient burns and pediatric injuries. Special burns – electrical, chemical, cold injuries and finally the treatment of other diseases that lead to massive skin loss are covered. Special considerations for pain, scar management, psychosocial recovery, intentional burns, burn prevention and disaster preparation complete the text.

 

Burn Care for General Surgeons and General Practitioners provides a reference for general and plastic surgeons who are planning a career in burns. The textbook will also be a straightforward resource for the general or plastic surgeon who takes care of burns as part of their practice.   

David G. Greenhalgh, MD, is Chief of Burns at Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, and is also a Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of California at Davis. While he has been involved in all aspects of research related to burn care, Dr. Greenhalgh's specific focus is on the mechanisms that influence the response to injury in distant organs after a burn. In addition, he does research in novel areas such as examining the role of mutations in the steroid receptor and the response to injury. Dr. Greenhalgh is even involved with the role of endogenous retroviruses and transposable elements in the response to injury. He is also interested in wound healing, scar formation, and the role of metabolic diseases in burn patients. He has been the author of over 185 published peer-reviewed papers and is the Associate Editor for the Journal of Surgical Research, a Clinical Editor for Wound Repair and Regeneration, and Associate Editor for the Journal of Burn Careand Research.