# The effect of purified hemoglobin spray on the treatment of pediatric patients with second-degree burns

## TL;DR

Purified hemoglobin spray may speed up healing and reduce complications in children with second-degree burns.

## Contribution

This study demonstrates that purified hemoglobin spray significantly improves healing outcomes in pediatric burn patients.

## Key findings

- Patients treated with purified hemoglobin spray had shorter hospital stays and faster epithelialization.
- The spray reduced post-discharge pruritus and long-term complications like pigmentation defects and hypertrophic scars.

## Abstract

Purified hemoglobin spray had emerged as a potential adjunctive therapy to accelerate wound healing in pediatric patients with burns. This retrospective study aimed to compare the healing process and post-treatment outcomes of children with second-degree burns treated with or without purified hemoglobin spray in a tertiary burn unit between December 1, 2023, and December 1, 2024. Data including demographics, burn characteristics (source, percentage, depth), number of dressings, length of hospital stay, and the day of complete epithelialization were recorded. Follow-up assessments at 3 and 6 months post-discharge evaluated the presence of pruritus and epithelialization defects, including hypertrophic scarring, pigmentation changes, or contractures.

Data were collected from pediatric patients with second-degree burns treated in a tertiary burn unit between December 1, 2023, and December 1, 2024. Variables included demographics, burn characteristics (source, percent TBSA, depth), number of dressings, length of hospital stay, and day of complete epithelialization. Patients were grouped by receipt of 99.9% purified hemoglobin spray versus no spray. Follow-up assessments at 3 and 6 months post-discharge evaluated pruritus and epithelialization defects, including hypertrophic scarring, pigmentation changes, or contractures.

Patients treated with 99.9% purified hemoglobin spray had significantly shorter hospital stays and epithelialization times (p < 0.001). Post-discharge pruritus was also significantly less common in this group (p < 0.001). The risk of developing pigmentation defects and epithelialization defects at the third month after discharge was reduced by 94.0% and 90.9%, respectively, while at the sixth month the risk of pigmentation defects was reduced by 90.9% and the risk of hypertrophic scar development during the 6-month follow-up period was reduced by 93.3%.

These findings suggested that purified hemoglobin spray might enhance wound healing, reduce the need for frequent dressing changes, and minimize long-term complications in pediatric burn care.