Home XXXX therapy: adjunct or risk factor?

@entity1 @entity26 @entity204 @entity1030
The use of home @entity26 therapy has become increasingly commonplace and is frequently prescribed by medical specialists. In this study, we have identified a generally unexpected risk of home @entity26 therapy. We performed a retrospective review of 3673 consecutive @entity1 treated at our adult burn center over a 10-year period from 1992 to 2001. We identified 27 @entity1 with burns directly attributable to @entity26 therapy and also noted an increased incidence of these injuries over the study period. The average age of the @entity1 was 68.1 +/- 9.2 years (range, 40-82 years). Twenty-three were using @entity26 at home, three in nursing homes, and one was an inpatient in an acute care facility. Twenty-five @entity1 (93%) were receiving @entity26 therapy for the diagnosis of @entity1030 . Twenty-four @entity1 (89%) were smoking while using @entity26 , two were lighting pilot lights, and one was lighting his wife's cigarette. Four @entity1 (15%) sustained burns greater than 10% TBSA. Seventeen @entity1 (63%) had only partial thickness burns. Thirteen @entity1 (48%) required admission for treatment of their burn injuries. The average length of stay for those admitted was 4.4 days. The average hospital charge for admitted @entity1 was US dollars 8055. There were four @entity204 (15%), all of which were correlated only with the extent of injury. Although intuitively obvious to most health care professionals, not all @entity1 understand that @entity26 therapy and cigarettes or open flame can result in a significant injury. Although some practitioners have advocated not prescribing home @entity26 for those who continue to smoke, an alternative means of reducing the incidence of this preventable complication appears warranted. Prevention efforts should focus on the counseling of @entity1 and their caregivers as well as educating primary care physicians, nurses, and home health providers as to the dangers of @entity26 use.
