The Burns Unit in Copenhagen: IV. Gastrointestinal Bleeding Complicating Burns

Abstract

As the Burns Unit in Copenhagen is functioning in close collaboration with a department of gastroenterologic surgery, we have always taken a great interest in gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with burns. The comprehensive literature on the subject is reviewed, and the two pathological types of gastrointestinal ulcerations occurring in relation to burns are discussed. Duodenal ulceration was first described by Curling and is known by his name. Multiple erosions of the gastric mucosa, currently more common, were described by Dupuytren, so that it seems reasonable to call them Dupuytren's ulcers. The reported incidence varies within wide limits, depending upon the composition of the patient series. Within the municipality of Copenhagen all burn injuries are treated in the Burns Unit. Accordingly, the exact incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding due to burns was calculated as three cases annually in one million of the population. All peptic ulcerations observed in the Burns Unit. Copenhagen, have been situated in the stomach. Only one-third of the patients presented clinical signs of bleeding. One had to have emergency operation. In the others, the ulceration was an autopsy finding, but had not been the cause of death. The treatment should, in our opinion, be as for patients without burns. The same applies to the indication for emergency operation.