Cast Study 4

Springfield Technical Community College

Case Study 5: Skin

Abstract

8 yr old white female, Angela Creighton, brought in unconscious by ambulance, presented with severe 2nd and 3rd degree burns from a house fire. She also has excessive smoke inhalation. 2nd degree burns on 5% of her body and 3rd degree burns on 15% of the rest of her body covering her thoracic and abdomen regions.

Chief complaint, review of systems

* 8 year old white female

* 5% second degree burns

* 15% third degree burns

* Excessive smoke inhalation

* Unconscious

* Vital signs were bp: 55/35, hr: 210 bpm resp: 40 at time of admission

* Burns on thoracic and abdomen region

* Quickly deteriorating from circulatory failure

* Two IVs were inserted and fluids were administered through each

* Her vitals stabilized and she was transferred to pediatric ICU

Pathology report

Normal Abnormal Notes

Regular inhalation smoke inhalation

Skin intact severe burns

Normal bp 100/60 55/35

Normal heart rate 70-100 bpm 210 bpm

Respiratory rate 20-30 bpm 40 bpm

Normal circulatory system circulatory failure

Discussion

1. Briefly describe the three major layers that make up healthy skin.

They are the epidermis, the dermis, and the hypodermis. Each has a major and important part they play in maintaining healthy skin. The epidermis, is the outer layer of cells covering a particular organism. The dermis is the sensitive connective tissue layer of the skin located below the epidermis, containing nerve endings, sweat and sebaceous glands and blood and lymph vessels. The hypodermis is the innermost and thickest layer of the skin and acts as an energy reserve.

2. Briefly describe the extent of damage seen in...