Publication: Mortality and length of stay in elderly toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) patients

Ms Heather Cleland (left) with research nurses

Ms Heather Cleland, Director, Victorian Adult Burns Service (VABS), and team have reported that timely referral of TEN patients, particularly the elderly, to a burns unit or an intensive care unit equipped to care for these patients, should be encouraged.
The team undertook a retrospective chart review of all seven patients over the age of 70 years (of which 3 survived), with a diagnosis of TEN admitted to the Alfred Hospital between January 2001 and December 2012. The team concludes that though survival is unlikely despite active treatment, something as critical as end-of-life decision-making should absolutely not be determined by the data obtained from a small case series such as this one and that the likelihood of patient survival may decrease, the longer the admission period, indicating an area for further research.
Reference: Mahar PD, Wasiak J, Gin D, Cleland H, Watters DA. Mortality and length of stay in elderly toxic epidermal necrolysis patients. Australas J Dermatol. 2015 Aug;56(3):233-4. doi: 10.1111/ajd.12268.