Combustiologist

Thermal and chemical burns are attributed to injuries arising from the effects of external factors, but not only the skin of a person suffers from burns. In severe burns, a burn shock occurs, accompanied by a violation of hemostasis (a decrease in blood volume), oxygen starvation of tissues and failure of internal organs - the so-called syndrome of systemic (polyorganic) insufficiency. And here, immediate medical attention is required to prevent complications and death. This assistance is provided by a combustiologist - a doctor specializing in the treatment of burns (from the Latin combustio - a burn).

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What treats the doctor-kbustiolog?

Combustiologist - in the conditions of burn or resuscitation department of the hospital or in a specialized burn center (in Ukraine there are 11 burn centers) - treats patients affected by burns of any degree, for more details - see Burns: general information.

Treatment of extensive and deep burns requires profound medical knowledge and proficiency in the treatment of burn surfaces, modern methods of resuscitation and intensive care, which include anti-shock infusion and transfusion therapy to relieve pain and restore hemostasis. The doctor-kbustiologi assesses the severity of the lesion and conducts the purification of the body from toxins (detoxification) by hemodialysis, hemosorption, plasmapheresis, etc.

The tasks of combobustology include the cleansing of the affected body surfaces from necrotic tissues and the fight against burn septic toxemia, as well as the use for the healing of burns of the entire arsenal of medical products - pharmaceutical, physiotherapeutic, surgical.

Special functions have a surgeon-kombuustiolog, which, first of all, performs operations for excising necrotic dead tissue to avoid further complications.

Very often, wounds with III-IV degree burns can not heal without surgical intervention, and to restore the skin on the burned site, the surgeon-kombuustiologist performs skin transplantation (autodermoplasty), and if it is impossible, transplantation of her substitutes.

Tips of the doctor-komustiologa

The lightest burns that cause minimal skin damage are referred to the first degree, they are also called superficial burns. Nevertheless, the advice of a combobiologist for this case is as follows:

• Cool the burnt surface with cold water for 5-15 minutes;
• do not apply ice, because it deepens the wound;
• Avoid prolonged cooling with water, because this will lead to hypothermia;
• Do not pierce the blisters before using antimicrobials;
• never use cotton swabs: cotton fibers stick to the wound and increase the risk of infection.

It is necessary to consult a doctor if the burn affects a large area of the skin (more than 20 square cm), and if it is on the face or on a large joint. It should be borne in mind that a superficial burn within the next few days can progress to a deeper.

The best way to combat burns is to prevent them. In many cases, burns are received at home, this is especially true for young children. The advice of a combobiologist also applies to parents, as 90% of burns in children can be prevented if:

• children will not be in the kitchen while cooking;
• Do not put pots or kettle on near-burners;
• to clean matches and lighters;
• install the plugs on the electrical outlet;
• replace all faulty electrical cords;
• Keep chemicals out of reach for children.

According to WHO estimates, on a global scale, more than 260,000 burns annually result in death. Injuries caused by fire burns are the fourth leading cause of death from trauma among people 65 years of age or older.

To date, not all the problems of treating burns have been solved, and the scientific search for more effective techniques continues. Clinical specialists of burn therapy and surgery are united by the European Burners Association (EBA), headquartered in the Netherlands. Every two years an international congress of specialists in the treatment of burns (the last, the 16th in a row, took place in September 2015 in Hanover). To disseminate the experience of the best combustiologists, the international industry magazine Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters is published.