Severe Thermal Injury Due to Alcohol Exposure Resulting in Upper Extremity Amputation: Case Report
Abstract:
Aim: The aim of presented case is to showcase a rare and life-threatening instance of a burn injury that is indirectly caused by alcohol consumption.
Case Report: We present the case of a 75-year-old man who fell asleep on a stove while distilling alcohol. He was transported by ambulance to Cho Ray Hospital. The patient was admitted with impaired consciousness, and all history was obtained heteroanamnestically from family members. He had sustained fourth-degree burns of the torso, back, and an arm that was completely covered with eschars. He was promptly admitted to the Department of Plastic Surgery, where the affected arm was amputated and a debridement of the surrounding area was performed. After 10 days of hospitalization with supportive care, the patient underwent a repeat debridement, and after 7 more days he was discharged home.
Conclusion: Lower-degree burns are very painful; however, in the presence of altered consciousness, if the source of the burn is not removed the injury can rapidly progress to deeper degrees and cause irreversible damage that may be life-threatening. Proper management of such burns requires a multidisciplinary team providing extensive debridement and supportive therapy.
