Liver, Pancreas and Thyroid Function in Burn Patients

In this prospective study, the extent to which severe burn injuries affect the morphology and
function of liver, pancreas and thyroid. The evaluation of the liver will be performed
non-invasively with liver fibrosis scores based on standard blood parameters, the
ultrasound-guided measurement of the liver size and the measurement of liver stiffness
(correlated with liver fibrosis) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP, correlated with
hepatic steatosis) via transient elastography (FibroScan©, Echosens SA, Paris, France). The
thyroid will be assessed by ultrasound and standard blood parameters and the pancreas by
standard blood parameters only, respectively.

The patient will be enrolled during the first days on their admission to the intensive care
burn unit, if they meet the inclusion criteria and no exclusion criteria are met. The first
assessment of liver, pancreas and thyroid function will be performed within the first 48
hours of admission. The same measurements maybe be repeated approximately weekly until
discharge, respectively. Furthermore at any follow-up visit up to 15 years post-burn if the
patient consents to further participate in the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with partial thickness burns. Only patients who sign an IRB-approved consent (≥18
years old) or assent and have their legal guardian consenting to their participation (6
months - 17 years old) will be included.

- Patient age > 6 months

- Total body surface area (TBSA) burned ≥ 30 %

- Flame, electrical, scald or chemical injury, contact burn

- Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TENS)

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patient < 6 months

- TBSA burned < 30 %