Abstract
Background: Burn injuries are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. For patients with extensive burn injuries, mechanical ventilation (MV) is a critical management modality. However, limited data are available regarding the outcome of burn patients receiving mechanical ventilation. This study aimed to determine the outcome in terms of mortality and its associated risk factors in burn patients who required MV. Method: A retrospective review of all consecutive burn patients, admitted to the Burn Unit and requiring mechanical ventilation at King Abdulaziz Medical City and King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital in Riyadh, from 2016 to 2019. For each patient, demographic, clinical, and outcome variables were collected. The length of stay was calculated from the date of initiation of MV after admission into the earliest discharge date or death date. The overall mortality rate during the period of the study was also calculated. Results: A total of 356 patients have been admitted to the Burn Unit during the study period. The median age was 18 years (IQR 4-35 years), and 67% were male. Flame burn (48%) was the most frequent type of burn, followed by scald burns (33%). Of the sample, 80 (20%) were placed on MV with a median length of stay of eight days. The APACHE-II severity score for patients who required MV was 16 (SD±6) and the mortality rate was 20%. Conclusion: This study reported the hospital outcomes of burn patients requiring MV. Resources should be planned to provide ultimate management plan for burn patients to reduce the mortality rate.