The main symptom of burns is pain every measure to reduce its intensity is welcome. Changing dressings in burn children are often difficult due to anxiety and pain developed over long hospitalizations. Patients with extensive burns receive sedations or general anesthesia, but those patients with minor or residual burns are a challenge. The use of different approaches to reduce these symptoms are necessary. The use of local anesthetics allows the clinicians to perform minor procedures during the changing dressings reducing the usual local pain complaints.
During a period of 5 years, 2018 to 2023 in our Pediatric burn Unit we have been using local lignocaine spray in the changing dressings of selected patients.
Inclussion criteria: 1. Burn area not exceeding 2% TBS 2. Skin staplers removal 3. Superficial debridments 4. Dressings that cause discomfort 5. Mucosal affection that requires cleaning
Material and Methods: The lignocaine spray (3% in a 10cc presentation) is applied in the selected patient after removal of the dressing in the hydrotheraphy room. Two to three flushes of the of the anesthetic are applied to the recipient area, 1 or 2 minutes to stablish the local effect and proceed with the treatment indicated.
Results: Over 580 applications done in 232 patients. No local or systemic adverse reactions reported. Reduce of local pain in 90% of cases.
Conclusion: The use of local topical anesthetics in pediatric patients that require minor porcedures in the changing dressings routine has prove to be a useful to reduce local pain.