UBC DIVISION OF PLASTIC SURGERY

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Burns, Trauma, and High Acuity Unit (BTHAU), and Burn Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital provide comprehensive burn care to adult patients.

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Inpatient Referrals

All inpatient referrals need to be discussed with plastic surgery on call, and all transfers need to be facilitated through the Patient Transfer Network (PTN) of British Columbia.

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Download the Adult Major Burn Clinical Practice Guidelines here.

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Outpatient Referrals

Acute burns able to be managed as outpatients should be discussed with plastic surgery on call so that they can be triaged. After discussion, please fax a referral to the burn clinic.

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Criteria for Referral to a Burn Centre

Burns that involve the following warrant a referral to a burn centre:

• Partial thickness burns greater than 10% total body surface area (TBSA).

• Burns that involve the face, hands, feet, genitalia, perineum, or major joints.

• Third degree burns in any age group.

• Electrical burns, including lightning injury.

• Chemical burns.

• Inhalation injury.

• Burn injury in patients with pre-existing medical disorders that could complicate management, prolong recovery, or affect mortality.

• Any patient with burns and concomitant trauma.

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