Delayed dilated cardiomyopathy for major burn injuries
Abstract
The early impact on the heart of severe burns has all been well documented previously. Here, we report on the late effects of burns upon the heart, and dilated cardiomyopathy, such aspects having been little reported previously in the literature. Over the past 8 years (June 1991 to December 1998), 55 scalded or flame-burnt patients for whom the total burnt body surface area (TBSA) exceeded 50% were treated. Seventeen patients survived and were followed up. The mean age was 44 years. The mean follow-up period was 47.3 months; four patients displayed a previous history of heart disease. We used several parameters to evaluate and follow cardiac status to see the late effect of burns upon the heart. Of 17 patients, 3 patients (17.7%) were found to exhibit dilated cardiomyopathies after a mean time of 6 months post-injury. A dramatic recovery from symptoms and roentgenographic findings were observed for all patients following symptomatic treatment. Here we report three cases of delayed dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that has been little reported in the past. There may be many causating factors. Several recommendations are described.
References
Citations
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle, that can lead to muscular or electrical dysfunction of the heart. It is often an irreversible disease that is associated with a poor prognosis. There are different causes and classifications of cardiomyopathies. Here are the latest discoveries pertaining to this disease.