Electrical Burns In Adults

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Electrical burns are injuries that happen when an electric current (electricity) goes near or passes through your body. If you touch electric currents, parts of your body may be burned. The current may enter your body at one point and exit at another, causing damage wherever it passes inside your body. You also may get electrical burns even if the current does not go through your body. If you are near enough, electricity may jump from an electrical source to you. This creates an arc or flash with enough heat to burn your clothing or body. The current causes the most damage where the electricity enters and exits your body.
  
  
• You may get a low-voltage electrical burn from batteries or small machines. Voltage is a way to measure electricity. If you get burned by lightning or a machine with high voltage, then your burn may be worse. When you are burned, your tissue gets damaged and begins to die. Your muscles, tendons, blood vessels, nerves, and bones also may get damaged. You may have a fast heartbeat, reddish urine, or be dizzy and confused. With treatment, you may have less pain, tissue damage, or infections caused by germs called bacteria. You may be able to return to work or your normal daily activities sooner than without treatment.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• It may hurt when your caregiver changes your bandages. Your scars may itch or become thick and raised. You may get too much fluid in your body from fluids. Surgery to remove dead tissue may cause you to have pain or an infection. You may have bleeding that does not stop or you may need a blood transfusion. If you had a skin graft, your grafts may fail, leaving you with dead or infected tissue. You may need an amputation if your limb has too much dead tissue.
  
  
• With or without treatment, your burned skin may be painful or become infected. Your muscles may twitch or become smaller, making it hard to move parts of your body. Your brain may be damaged. Your organs and tissue may be damaged by compartment syndrome, which is increased pressure in your body. You may have eyesight or hearing problems. Your heart may stop beating and your lungs may stop working. You may die. Call your caregiver if you have concerns or questions about your surgery, condition, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

Tubes:

• IV: An IV (intravenous) is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.
  
  
• CVP line: A CVP line is also called a central line. It is an IV catheter or tube. It is put into a large blood vessel near your collarbone, in your neck, or in your groin. The groin is the area where your abdomen meets your upper leg. The CVP line may be used to give medicines or IV fluids. It may also be hooked up to a monitor to take pressure readings. This information helps caregivers check your heart.
  
  
• Foley catheter: This is a tube caregivers put into your bladder to drain your urine into a bag. Keep the bag below your waist. This will help prevent infection and other problems caused by urine flowing back into your bladder. Do not pull on the catheter, because this may cause pain and bleeding, and the catheter could come out. Keep the catheter tubing free of kinks so your urine will flow into the bag. Caregivers will remove the catheter as soon as possible, to help prevent infection.
  
  
• Nasogastric (NG) tube: An NG tube is put into your nose, and passes down your throat until it reaches your stomach. Food and medicine may be given through an NG tube if you cannot take anything by mouth. The tube may instead be attached to suction if caregivers need to keep your stomach empty.

Medicines:

• Antibiotics: This medicine may be given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by germs called bacteria. This medicine may be put on your skin before your burn is bandaged. You also may get antibiotics as a pill, shot, or in your IV.
  
  
• Silver medicine: You may get medicine with silver in it to help fight infection. It also may help your burn heal faster. The silver may be placed on your skin as an ointment or may be part of your bandage.
  
  
• Heart medicine: This medicine is given to strengthen or regulate your heartbeat. It also may help your heart in other ways. Talk with your caregiver to find out what your heart medicine is and why you are taking it.
  
  
• Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain.
  
  
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling a caregiver when you want to get out of bed or if you need help.
  
  
• Steroid medicine: Steroid medicine may be given to decrease inflammation. Steroid medicine may help your body heal after an electrical burn injury. It may help your muscles become stronger. Your caregiver may put steroids on your skin. He also may give it to you as a pill, shot, or in your IV. This medicine may have side effects. Be sure you understand why you need steroids. Do not stop taking this medicine without your caregivers okay.
  
  
• Diuretics: This medicine is given to decrease edema (excess fluid) that collects in a part of your body, such as your legs. Diuretics can also remove excess fluid from around your heart or lungs and decrease your blood pressure. It is often called water pills. You may urinate more often when you take this medicine.
  
  
• Td vaccine: This vaccine is a booster shot used to help prevent diphtheria and tetanus. The Td booster may be given to adolescents and adults every 10 years or for certain wounds and injuries.

Monitoring:

• Intake and output: Caregivers will keep track of the amount of liquid you are getting. They also may need to know how much you are urinating. Ask how much liquid you should drink each day. Ask caregivers if they need to measure or collect your urine.
  
  
• Neurologic exam: This is also called neuro signs, neuro checks, or neuro status. A neurologic exam can show caregivers how well your brain works after an injury or illness. Caregivers will check how your pupils (black dots in the center of each eye) react to light. They may check your memory and how easily you wake up. Your hand grasp and balance may also be tested.
  
  
• Pulse oximeter: A pulse oximeter is a device that measures the amount of oxygen in your blood. A cord with a clip or sticky strip is placed on your finger, ear, or toe. The other end of the cord is hooked to a machine. Never turn the pulse oximeter or alarm off. An alarm will sound if your oxygen level is low or cannot be read.
  
  
• Vital signs: Caregivers will check your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and temperature. They will also ask about your pain. These vital signs give caregivers information about your current health.

Tests:

• Blood and urine tests: You may need blood or urine tests to check for damage to your muscles, heart, and other organs. You may need to have blood tests more than once.
  
  
• Heart monitor: This is also called an ECG or EKG. Sticky pads placed on your skin record your heart's electrical activity.
  
  
• Imaging tests: These tests help your caregiver see images (pictures) that show how your body is doing. You may need any of the following:
  
  
  • Computed tomography scan: This is also called a CT scan. A special x-ray machine uses a computer to take pictures of your brain. Your caregiver may do this test to check for signs of brain injury after you have electrical burns. This may help your caregiver see if you have swelling, bleeding, or damage in your brain.
    
    
  • Magnetic resonance imaging: This test is also called an MRI. During the MRI, pictures are taken of your head or other body parts. An MRI may be used to look at your brain, muscles, joints, bones, or blood vessels. An MRI may show if you have swollen muscles that may cause increased pressure in your body. You will need to lie still during an MRI. Never enter the MRI room with an oxygen tank, watch, or any other metal objects. This can cause serious injury.
    
    
  • Scintigraphy: Scintigraphy is a test that takes pictures of your body. Scintigraphy may help your caregiver find dead tissue in your body. Scintigraphy also may help your caregiver figure out how much dead tissue should be removed if you need surgery.
    
    
  • Ultrasound: An ultrasound is a simple test that looks inside of your body. Sound waves are used to show pictures of your organs and tissues on a TV-like screen.

Treatment options:

You may need to go to a special treatment center for people with burns. Areas of your body with burns will be bandaged to keep the area moist and clean. Caregivers will monitor your condition to see if you are improving or need other treatments. Your may need any of the following:

• Fluids: If you need more fluid in your body, your caregiver may give you intravenous (IV) fluids. These fluids may contain protein, salt water, minerals, or glucose (sugar). An IV is a tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. This tube is capped or connected to tubing and the liquid.
  
  
• Surgery: Ask your caregiver for more information about the following:
  
  
  • Debridement: This is surgery to remove damaged tissue from your body. Your caregiver will remove enough tissue until he can see your healthy tissue. Caregivers may do this to prevent infection, decrease inflammation (pain and swelling), and improve your healing. Your may need surgery more than once. Your caregiver may cover your surgery spot with a skin graft or flap.
    
    
  • Skin grafts and flaps: Your caregiver may place grafts to cover or replace the skin or tissue you lost from electrical burns. Grafts may come from other healthy tissue in your body. It also may be natural or man-made material. A graft can help close your wounds, prevent an infection, or decrease scarring. Skin flap surgery is done to fix large wounds that cannot be covered by skin grafting. A skin flap is skin and tissue near the wound that is used to cover the wound area. Skin flaps may improve the appearance of your skin.
    
    
  • Escharotomy: In an escharotomy, your caregiver will remove dead tissue from your body. An escharotomy may decrease your chance of infection and more damage to your skin.
    
    
  • Fasciotomy: Fasciotomy is surgery to cut into your fascia. Fascia is strong tissue that divides your body into sections. Cutting into your fascia will release pressure that is caused by swollen muscles. With fasciotomy, you may be less likely to have more damage to your nerves, tissue, or organs.
    
    
  • Nerve release: You may need to have a nerve release if a nerve in your body is compressed (pressed down) after your burn. Surgery is done to release the pressure on the nerve. This may help prevent your injury from getting worse.
    
    
  • Arthroplasty: This is surgery to fix damaged joints.
    
    
  • Amputation: Amputation is surgery to remove one of your body limbs, such as a finger, arm, or leg. You may need an amputation if there is too much dead tissue in your limb.
  
  
• Blood transfusion: A blood transfusion may be needed if you lose too much blood. Whole blood or parts of blood will be given through a small tube placed in your vein. Ask your caregiver for more information on receiving blood products.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Electrical Burns In Adults (Inpatient Care)