This past summer The Burn Center had to say "Goodbye" to our Director, Dr Aballay. Dr Aballay came to West Penn as a surgical resident, returned as a surgeon and then became Director. Dr Aballay has always been a staunch supporter of the staff, Camp KOALA and Burn Concern. He was extremely supportive of the certification of Burn Nurses process. He will be missed and we hope all the best for him in his future endeavors,
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West Penn’s Burn Center is the ONLY certified pediatric Burn Center in the Region!
When it comes to pediatric patients, the burn injury statistics are alarming. Nationally, children under the age of 16 account for 29% of all burn injuries, with 19% of those injuries occurring in children under the age of 5. Burn-related injuries are categorized as accidental injuries; this category is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children ages 1 to 9.
Our multidisciplinary pediatric team includes pediatricians, critical care, physical therapy, child life support, pediatric psychology and pediatric-trained nurses. They provide skills, expertise and compassion to deal effectively with the most challenging cases, helping children return to healthy, energetic lives.
Our specialists focus on the fact that children are not merely smaller adults. Children have physiologic and anatomical differences that warrant special attention when managing their burn injuries. When treating children, we carefully consider all of these differences:
• Nearly three times the body surface area to body mass ratio of adults
• Differences in skin thickness
• A higher metabolic and oxygen consumption rate
• Airway anatomical differences
• Limited physiologic reserve requiring a more precise fuid resuscitation
• Evaporative water loss proportionately higher than an adult • Predisposition to hypothermia
• More challenging pain management
Our specialized pediatric burn care services are designed with our smallest patients in mind and include programs to help transition children after their inpatient stay:
• Nitrous oxide use for dressing changes
• Psychological assessment and support
• Pediatrician, pediatric critical care and pediatric anesthesiologists available 24/7 to participate in managing critical pediatric injuries
• Access to the children’s playroom located inside the Burn Center
• School re-entry programs for burn-injured children
• An annual summer camp program where burn-injured children can interact
Recognizing the severe psychological impact of burns, we provide clinical consultation services to all pediatric inpatients and during most pediatric outpatient appointments. These services promote child and family psychosocial adjustment to the injury and its treatment, teach children and families how to cope with painful medical procedures such as dressing changes, and educate children and families about burn prevention.
