Ketterer Andrew R, Hogrefe Christopher P
Department of Emergency Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
J Emerg Med. 2019 Jun;56(6):e107-e109. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2019.02.006. Epub 2019 Apr 22.
Car seat heaters are an increasingly common amenity in vehicles in the United States, but they have been shown to place neurologically impaired patients at risk for significant burns.
We discuss the case of a neurologically intact and otherwise healthy 49-year-old man who presented to the Emergency Department with second-degree gluteal and posterior upper thigh burns after using a car seat warmer for 8 consecutive hours. At no point during the course of his drive did he experience discomfort beyond feeling slightly warm. The patient was treated with supportive therapy and standard wound care, and he had a full recovery after 10 days. We review the pathophysiology of burns and discuss how seat heaters can place even neurologically intact patients at risk for significant burn injuries. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Our case is the first published report of a neurologically intact patient sustaining significant burns from the use of a car seat heater. This case illustrates that burn injuries can develop after prolonged exposure even at low temperatures. Emergency physicians should perform a careful skin examination on all patients presenting with gluteal discomfort in whom a history of car seat warmer use is obtained.
在美国，汽车座椅加热器在车辆中越来越普遍，但已证明它们会使神经功能受损的患者面临严重烧伤的风险。
我们讨论了一名49岁神经功能正常且身体健康的男性病例，该患者连续使用汽车座椅加热器8小时后，因二度臀肌和大腿上部后侧烧伤被送往急诊科。在驾驶过程中的任何时候，他除了感觉有点热之外没有感到不适。患者接受了支持性治疗和标准伤口护理，10天后完全康复。我们回顾了烧伤的病理生理学，并讨论了座椅加热器如何使即使是神经功能正常的患者也面临严重烧伤的风险。急诊医生为什么应该了解这一点？：我们的病例是首例关于神经功能正常的患者因使用汽车座椅加热器而遭受严重烧伤的发表报告。该病例表明，即使在低温下长时间暴露也可能发生烧伤。对于所有有使用汽车座椅加热器病史且出现臀部不适的患者，急诊医生应进行仔细的皮肤检查。
