35. Ibuprofen is Not Associated With an Elevated Bleeding Risk or Transfusion Requirement in Skin Grafting in Patients With Burn Injuries

PURPOSE: Ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), increasingly used alongside other medications to manage pain, reducing reliance on opioids. However, it can increase the risk of bleeding, a significant concern in burn surgery, which often involves substantial blood loss. This study aims to evaluate the safety of ibuprofen use in burn patients undergoing skin grafting. METHODS: A retrospective case-control chart review was conducted for patients admitted with acute burn injury from 01/01/2024 to 07/31/2024 who underwent skin grafting. The primary outcome variables included perioperative transfusion requirement, bleeding, skin graft failure, and other complications. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients met inclusion criteria, 24 (45.2%) of whom received scheduled ibuprofen therapy during their hospitalization. The total body surface area affected was 12.3±9.3% for the non-ibuprofen group and 14.3±12.1% for the ibuprofen group (p=0.62). Perioperative transfusion requirements were similar between the two cohorts, averaging 4.6±3.1 for the non-ibuprofen group and 3.2±2.8 units of packed red blood cells for the ibuprofen group (p=0.207). Skin graft failure (defined as need for re-grafting) occurred in 6.9% (n=2) of the non-ibuprofen cohort versus none (n=0) in the ibuprofen group (p=0.112). Postoperative complications did not vary significantly between the two groups for seroma (p=0.259) and infection (p=0.568). There were no cases of hypersensitivity or gastrointestinal bleeding. CONCLUSION: There is likely no increased risk of bleeding or skin graft failure in burn injury patients taking ibuprofen, suggesting that these medications may be safe in this context.