Management of the Formosa Color Dust Explosion: Lessons Learned from the Treatment of 49 Mass Burn Casualty Patients at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Cheng, Ming Huei; Mathews, Alexandra L.; Lark, Meghan E.; Hsiao, Yen-Chang; Ng, Chau Yee; Chung, Kevin C.

doi:10.1097/prs.0000000000002148

Cited by 26 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…In a previous study, the experience from CGMH in response to the Formosa Color Dust explosion in Taiwan was used to highlight the importance of advance preparation in the management of mass casualty burn scenarios 10 . Budgeting for the cost of caring for patients injured in a burn event is an important component of disaster planning.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, mass casualty surges stress this efficiency 7 . The magnitude of the Taiwan event resulted in an influx of burn patients to 43 hospitals in Taiwan, with most patients requiring surgical treatment 10 . Hospitals in Taiwan ran out of both Biobrane and Allevyn after only one week 10 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The magnitude of the Taiwan event resulted in an influx of burn patients to 43 hospitals in Taiwan, with most patients requiring surgical treatment 10 . Hospitals in Taiwan ran out of both Biobrane and Allevyn after only one week 10 . Only 8.3% of CGMH patients received these substitutes at the initial treatment, leaving a few patients’ wound coverage delayed until these artificial dressing materials could be imported from other countries 4 weeks later.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The patients involved in the explosion were sprayed with a thick cloud of colored dust powder while attending a stage show 10 . The powder ignited, causing extensive burns and inhalation injuries among 499 of the partygoers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The powder ignited, causing extensive burns and inhalation injuries among 499 of the partygoers. This disaster presented a unique patient population to the regional hospitals in Taiwan, with a low mean age of 22 years (15–37) and a large mean burn surface area of 43.5% 10 . The cost distribution of resources used to treat the CGMH patients was analyzed to identify the most significant cost drivers in caring for an acute mass burn patient population.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cost Analysis of 48 Burn Patients in a Mass Casualty Explosion Treated at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Mathews

Cheng

Muller

et al. 2017

Injury

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Introduction Little is known about the costs of treating burn patients after a mass casualty event. A devastating Color Dust explosion that injured 499 patients occurred on June 27, 2015 in Taiwan. This study was performed to investigate the economic effects of treating burn patients at a single medical center after an explosion disaster. Methods A detailed retrospective analysis on 48 patient expense records at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital after the Color Dust explosion was performed. Data were collected during the acute treatment period between June 27, 2015 and September 30, 2015. The distribution of cost drivers for the entire patient cohort (n=48), patients with a percent total body surface area burn (%TBSA) ≥ 50 (n=20), and those with %TBSA <50 (n=28) were analyzed. Results The total cost of 48 burn patients over the acute 3-month time period was $2,440,688, with a mean cost per patient of $50,848 ±36,438. Inpatient ward fees (30%), therapeutic treatment fees (22%), and medication fees (11%) were found to be the three highest cost drivers. The 20 patients with a %TBSA ≥50 consumed $1,559,300 (63.8%) of the total expenses, at an average cost of $77,965 ± 34,226 per patient. The 28 patients with a %TBSA <50 consumed $881,387 (36.1%) of care expenses, at an average cost of $31,478 ± 23,518 per patient. Conclusions In response to this mass casualty event, inpatient ward fees represented the largest expense. Hospitals can reduce this fee by ensuring wound dressing and skin substitute materials are regionally stocked and accessible. Medication fees may be higher than expected when treating a mass burn cohort. In preparation for a future event, hospitals should anticipate patients with a %TBSA ≥ 50 will contribute the majority of inpatient expenses.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%