ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Burns are among the leading external causes of death in Brazil, generating huge costs and having physical, psychological, and social consequences. The objective of this study was to compare two groups of burn patients, i.e., those with and those without adjuvant treatment with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy and to perform a cost analysis.
Methods:
A retrospective study was carried out between 2011 and 2013, comparing 20 patients with moderate to severe burns who were hospitalized at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Campo Grande and treated with HBO (group I) and 22 patients treated without HBO (group II).
Results:
Most of the patients, i.e., 24 (57.1%), were male. Flammable product was the most frequent etiologic agent in both groups, accounting for 56.6% of the burn cases. The average age of group I patients was of 26.6 years and that of group II was of 23.3 years, with a prevalence (50.4%) of those aged between 13 and 35 years. The average final cost per patient was R$17,292.00 for group I and R$25,360 for group II (p = 0.028).
Conclusion:
We conclude that, in our service, patients presenting moderate and severe burns and treated with HBO therapy underwent a lower number of surgical procedures, e.g., grafts and debridement that allowed reduced hospitalization time and led to significant savings in hospital costs.
Keywords:
Burn; Treatment; Hyperbaric
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