diyhealth.com

Burns Diagnosis

Burns: Diagnosis


Top Diagnosis

1. Biopsy

Biopsy is the process of removing and subsequently studying damaged tissues. For burn patients, biopsy is particularly useful since it examines the magnitude of collagen damage caused to the skin, the vascular damage in tissues and cell protein damage. As mentioned already, biopsy involves study of burned tissues. In a majority of situations, a simple invasive needle biopsy would suffice. However, if you have been recommended a surgical biopsy, then the process requires to be executed in an invasive manner. Multiple visits are not generally required since a single biopsy can reveal a lot. It is one of the most important diagnostic methods for burns and has the capacity to give doctors a straightforward overview of the damage. Hence, it is not always necessary that biopsy has to be performed as part of a larger body of tests.

2. Thermography

Apart from biopsy, thermograohy is yet another important diagnostic test for burns worth mentioning about. It mainly works by studying the burn temperature. There are times when deeper wounds prove to be comparatively cooler than the superficial and visible external wounds. Thermography does the work of revealing these hidden areas. The deeper wounds experience reduced blood circulation and only thermography can bring them to the attention of the medical team. Since thermography reveals a portion of the total injury, it may not be enough to diagnose a situation. The patient may also need to undergo a series of other tests. Thermograhy uses infrared technology to perform the job of revealing deeper wounds. The patient should ideally get the test done within three days of encountering the burns.

3. Video angiography

Laser videography is one of the most important diagnostic tests in the burn evaluation procedure. It uses a substance known as indiocyanine green to measure the fluctuations in tissue perfusion. The substance is injected into the patientโ€™s skin to measure the exact changes. Hence, it is a pervasive procedure for diagnosing the extent of burn damage. The best part about videography is that it highlights the tissues with poor circulation. Depending on how the severe the damage is, a single videography session may or may not prove sufficient.

4. FBC

It is most generally suggested when a person suffers significant burns. FBC reveals the extent of damage by indicating thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. It is the most common of all blood tests. A blood sample is drawn from a vein in the arm. Hence, FBC is slightly invasive. Again, it cannot be said with certainty that FBC is the only test you would have to undergo as part of the entire treatment procedure for burns. The most significant feature of FBC, when applied in burn cases, is that it reveals neutropenia, hypovolaemia, thrombocytopenia and haematocrit.

5. Fluorescein staining

Fluorescein staining is most generally used for diagnosing concealed burns. It is recommended in situations where the eyes get affected. Fluorescein staining reveals damaged epithelial cells in cornea. It is one of the most invasive techniques employed by the ophthalmologist. Since fluorescein staining pertains to a certain area of the body, it may not be the only test a patient is asked to undergo by the doctor.

6. Arterial blood gas

This test is ordered by doctors when the patient is suspected of suffering from inhalation injury. Arterial blood gas, thus, shows the metabolic acidosis in inhalation injury. It is a blood test performed by gathering samples of blood from the artery. Hence, like FBC, arterial blood gas is a bit pervasive. If the patient has sustained injuries in other areas of the body apart from lungs, then arterial blood gas may be accompanied by several other tests.

7. Carboxyhaemoglobin monitoring

Carboxyhaemoglobin monitoring, like arterial blood gas, is another important diagnostic tool for detecting inhalation injuries in burn cases. It is a 100% non-pervasive method which patients are normally ordered in conjugation with other diagnostic tests.

8. Wound histology

This is most commonly ordered when there is suspicion of sepsis. This particular diagnostic test reveals the causative organism for wound infections. It is a pervasive method for studying wounds in burn injuries.

9. Metabolic panel

This is yet another diagnostic test for patients who have sustained serious burn injuries. The metabolic panel is adept at showing high levels of creatine, glucose, hypokalaemia etc. The comprehensive metabolic panel refers to a series of fourteen blood tests. Hence, they are cannot be classified as absolutely non-pervasive.

Today's Top Articles:

Scroll to Top