Skin Burn by Termal Mattress - A Therapeutic Approach

Authors

  • Rochelle Gorczak Faculdade de Veterinária, Centro Universitário Ritter dos Reis (UniRitter), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
  • Marilia Avila Valandro Faculdade de Veterinária, Centro Universitário Ritter dos Reis (UniRitter), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0591-5368
  • Isabella Michels Carvalho Faculdade de Veterinária, Centro Universitário Ritter dos Reis (UniRitter), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
  • Ana Carolina Coelho Faculdade de Veterinária, Centro Universitário Ritter dos Reis (UniRitter), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5047-7363

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22456/1679-9216.105693

Abstract

Background: Burns are caused by a direct or indirect action of heat on an organism, compromising the functional integrity of the skin. Hypothermia is a common intercurrence in animals during the transoperative period; thermal mattresses are used to maintain the animal’s body temperature, but inappropriate use can cause the patient’s skin to burn. In humans, burns are quite common; however, in veterinary medicine, they are infrequent. The aim of this study was to describe a case of accidental burn in a canine caused by a thermal mattress, emphasizing wound treatment and analgesia used.

Case: A 12-year-old male canine without defined breed weighing 15 kg underwent an emergency exploratory laparotomy due to rupture of a spleen mass and presented with intercurrence hypothermia during the anesthesia procedure, which was controlled using a thermal mattress. Ten days after the surgical procedure, he developed a skin lesion with erythema, suffusion, and necrosis, evolving skin displacement along the entire back with a lot of pain which was possibly caused by the use of a thermal mattress in the transoperative procedure. The intuited analgesic treatment involved the use of numerous and different drugs, including Methadone (0.3 mg/kg, QID, SC), Dipyrone (25 mg/kg, TID, IV), and Ketamine (0.5 mg/kg, TID, SC) (during hospitalization), as well as Tramadol (4 mg/kg, TID, PO) and Dipyrone (25 mg/kg, TID, PO) after medical release as support therapy. For the wound treatment, calcium alginate was initially used daily and subsequently changed for daily application of dermisana oil. The patient followed up weekly for approximately two months for wound monitoring as well as adjustments to the drug therapy. The would almost completely healed, but the patient showed a significant worsening in the general clinical condition correlated with the neoplasm that he had, and the owner and clinical staff of the veterinary hospital opted for euthanasia.

Discussion: Hypothermia should be avoided as much as possible during anesthesia, as the body’s temperature is very important in homeostasis, in addition to being able to change the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of some drugs. The use of a thermal mattress to avoid hypothermia during the intraoperative period is a common and useful tool in veterinary routine, but should be used with caution and constant monitoring of the animal under general anesthesia to avoid skin burns which are not immediately noted. When diagnosed, the treatment should aim for wound healing and provide analgesia. Different pharmacological approaches can be used for this purpose, including topical therapies with different products that provide wound healing and regard to analgesia can be used for association of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as meloxicam, opioids like morphine and tramadol, and N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) blockers like ketamine for analgesia. Burn treatment is difficult but can have a favorable prognosis. In the present report, the conservative wound management using sodium alginate and dermisana oil almost completely cured the wound, and the canine responded positively to the analgesic protocol instituted with the association of different drugs. It is still important to highlight the attendance and commitment of the owner in the proposed treatment, as euthanasia, in this case, was due to the comorbidity presented by the patient.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Albernaz V.G.P., Ferreira A.A. & Castro J.L.C. 2015. Queimaduras térmicas em cães e gatos. Veterinária e Zootecnia. 22(3): 322-334.

Alves L.B., Eurides D., Baungarten L.B., Busnardo C.A., Silva L.A.F., Oliveira B.J.N.A. & Souza L.A. 2011. Chemical burns by fipronil in a dog's breed rottweiler. Revista Nosso Clínico. 14(80): 48-52.

Cavazana W.C., Simões M.L.P.B., Yoshii S.O., Amado C.A.B. & Cuman R.K.N. 2009. Açúcar (sacarose) e triglicerídeos de cadeia média com ácidos graxos essenciais no tratamento de feridas cutâneas: estudo experimental em ratos. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia. 84(3):229-36.

Dunlop C.I., Daunt D.A. & Haskins S. 1989. Thermal Burns in Four Dogs during Anesthesia. Veterinary Surgery. 18(3): 242-246.

Ferreira E., Lucas R., Rossi L.A. & Andrade D. 2003. Curativo do paciente queimado: uma revisão de literatura. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP. 37(1): 44-51.

Guirro E.C. B.P., Puntel F.C., Bebber B.A., Thomas L.D., Luiz R.M. & Viott A.M. 2015. Efeito do açúcar em diferentes formulações na cicatrização por segunda intenção em ratos Wistar. Veterinária em Foco. 13(1): 2-8.

Junqueira L. C. & Carneiro J. 2013. Histologia Básica: Texto e Atlas. 12.ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan, pp.354-359.

Kawalilak L.T., Fransson B.A. & Alessio T.L. 2017. Management of a facial partial thickness chemical burn in a dog caused by bleach. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. 27(2): 224-231.

Leão C.E.G. 1999. Queimaduras. In: Fonseca F.P. & Rocha P.R.S. (Eds). Cirurgia Ambulatorial. 3.ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan, pp.122-128.

Lima D.A.S.D., Quessada A.M., Lima W.C., Silva F.A.N., Rodrigues N.M., Rodrigues M.C. & Sousa J.M. 2012. Reação farmacodérmica em cão: relato de caso. MEDVEP Dermato. 2(4): 224-227.

Mazzaferro E.M. 2012. Choque térmico. In: Rabelo R. (Ed). Emergências de Pequenos Animais. Rio de Janeiro: Elsevier, pp.303-309.

McKune C.M., Murrell J.C., Nolan A.M., White K.L. & Wright B.D. 2015. Nociception and Pain. In: Grimm K.A., Lamont L.A., Tranquilli W.J., Greene S.A. & Robertson S.A. (Eds). Lumb & Jones’ Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. 5th edn. Ames: Wiley Blackwel, pp.584-617.

Pasini J.S. & Soares A.V. 2017. Analgesia em canino com queimadura extensa. Revista Nosso Clínico. 20(119): 26-32.

Pead M.J. & Langley-Hobbs S.J. 2013. Manejo agudo de lesões ortopédicas e de tecidos moles externos. In: King L.G. & Boag A. (Eds). Manual BSAVA de Emergência e Medicina Intensiva em Cães e Gatos. 2.ed. São Paulo: MedVet, pp.324-358.

Ramos A.F., Porto O.S. & Guerra A.D.L. 2019. Diagnósticos e intervenções de enfermagem a um paciente com queimadura por choque elétrico: Estudo de caso. Revista Científica da Escola Estadual de Saúde Pública Goiás “Cândido Santiago”. 5(2): 76-87.

Rocha J.A., Miranda M.J. & Andrade M.J. 2006. Abordagem terapêutica das úlceras de pressão - Intervenções baseadas na evidência. Acta Médica Portuguesa. 19: 29-38.

Schwartz S.L., Schick A.E., Lewis T.P. & Loeffler D. 2018. Dorsal thermal necrosis in dogs: a retrospective analysis of 16 cases in the southwestern USA (2009–2016). Veterinary Dermatology. 29(2): 139-e55.

Simas S.M. 2010. O tratamento de feridas cutâneas em cães e gatos. 112p. Porto Alegre, RS. Monografia (Conclusão de curso). Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul.

Soares G.C.L., Cardoso C.G. & Junior E.M. 2015. Causas e consequências da hipotermia: a importância da monitoração da temperatura no perioperatório. Revista de Investigação Veterinária. 14(6): 1-7.

Tan C., Govendir M., Zaki S., Miyake Y., Packiarajah P. & Malik R. 2004. Evaluation of four warming procedures to minimise heat loss induced by anaesthesia and surgery in dogs. Australian Veterinary Journal. 82(1-2): 65-68.

Tello L.H. 2012. Queimaduras. In: Rabelo R. (Ed). Emergências de Pequenos Animais. Rio de Janeiro: Elsevier, pp.529-535.

Wilson D.V. & Shih C.A. 2015. Anesthetic Emergencies and Resuscitation. In. Grimm K.A., Lamont L.A., Tranquilli W.J., Greene S.A. & Robertson S.A. (Eds). Lumb & Jones’ Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. 5th edn. Ames: Wiley Blackwel, pp.114-129.

Published

2021-01-01

How to Cite

Gorczak, R., Valandro, M. A., Carvalho, I. M., & Coelho, A. C. (2021). Skin Burn by Termal Mattress - A Therapeutic Approach. Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, 49. https://doi.org/10.22456/1679-9216.105693

Most read articles by the same author(s)