Phenylephrine Tumescence for Hemostasis in Surgery for Burn Injury

Overview

The standard of care for treatment of burn injury is to inject a solution of epinephrine under the skin of the injured site in order to reduce blood loss during skin grafting. This solution of epinephrine has been shown to have effects on the body outside the donor site. Some people have increases in heart rate and blood pressure. We will study the effect of a phenylephrine solution in place of an epinephrine solution to control blood loss. We think that phenylephrine will help decrease blood loss and not change blood pressure or heart rate.

The injured area will be injected under the skin and a skin graft will be taken in the same way as we usually do. The only change will be the use of phenylephrine in the solution instead of epinephrine.

Our goal is to find whether or not phenylephrine or epinephrine solution results in a reduction of blood loss without affecting the rest of the body.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

1. Burn injury requiring debridement and grafting between 5-30% TBSA

Exclusion Criteria

1. Head and neck, hand, foot, or genital burns
2. On anticoagulants (except NSAIDs)
3. On monoamine oxidase inhibitor or tricyclic antidepressant
4. Coronary or peripheral vascular disease
5. History of arrhythmias
6. On a Beta-blocker
7. History of vascular abnormality
8. Hypertension