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Biomedical subjects

Andrew Burd

Publications and source records attributed to Andrew Burd.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Prospective study on the treatment of postburn hyperpigmentation by intense pulsed light.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Postburn hyperpigmentation is a common phenomenon among Asian especially over grafted areas and sometimes over donor sites and healed wounds without skin graft. This condition is difficult to treat and can cause severe psychological distress. Intense pulsed light (IPL) has been used to treat melanocytic lesions with promising result. The role of IPL in treating postburn hyperpigmentation has not been explored. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and complication of IPL in the treatment of postburn hyperpigmentation prospectively. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen Chinese patients with postburn hyperpigmentation were treated by IPL. There were 14 females and 5 males. Their age ranged from 8 to 51 years with a mean age of 29.4 +/- 11.6 years. The cutoff filters of 550, 570, and 590 nm were used for 3-7 treatments at intervals of 3-4 weeks. Patients were treated with an energy fluence of 28-46 J/cm(2), pulse width of 1.7-4 milliseconds, double pulse mode, and a delay of 15-40 milliseconds. RESULTS: Treatment results and complications were evaluated and scored after each treatment. Over 78% of the patients showed more than 50% clinical clearance and nearly 32% of the patients were able to achieve more than 75% clearing. Although two patients had no clinical response, one patient had 100% clearing. Three patients developed blisters and one patient had erythema that all resolved within 1 week without leaving permanent marks. They have been followed-up from 11-32 months and there was no recurrence of the hyperpigmentation. CONCLUSIONS: IPL is effective and safe in treating postburn hyperpigmentation in Asian patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Allogenic skin: transplant or dressing?

The use of biological dressings is an established aspect of contemporary burns care. The type and source of these biological materials can give rise to both legal and ethical issues. This paper looks at these issues in relation to allogenic skin. It is argued, from a medical perspective, that non-viable allogenic skin, cannot be transplanted and so should therefore be classified both medically and legally as a dressing.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Before the paradigm shift: concepts and communication between doctors and nurses in a burns team.

The evolution of care delivered by a multidisciplinary burns team is a function of the effectiveness of the professional communication between team members. In this exercise, we have explored concepts and communication between nurses and doctors in a burns team. Loosely structured weekly meetings were held over a 4-month period. The explicit objective was to determine and define the current model of burns care in a regional burn centre. The implicit objective, however, was to develop a mutual appreciation of actual and potential problems in communication. Consensus task identification was achieved at the end of each meeting with full compliance in completing the tasks before the next meeting. Although there was a unanimous commitment to the team concept, traditional, professional, paradigms persist. For nurses, the concept of holistic modelling predominated, whilst the disease centred paradigm remained the focus of medical modelling. Linguistic, cultural and professional barriers to effective communication were identified but did not readily conform to prior expectations. Experience in burns care can transcend these barriers more effectively than a common culture or profession. In conclusion, team work and team building is a complex process that can benefit from an ongoing process of re-evaluation. An obvious yet common error is to assume a level of mutual understanding that does not in fact exist. Stepping aside to re-explore fundamental principles on which team members base their personal and professional practice can help in elucidating and determining new paradigms of care, which can be evaluated and appropriately implemented. The consensus conclusion was that this approach was a very valuable investment in time in pursuing excellence in the field of burns care.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗