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WhatsApp UsIf you're reading this at 2 a.m. in a hospital corridor, or in the back of a car on your way here — please breathe. I've treated more than 5,000 patients, and I've seen families just like yours. Here's what I want you to know: burns are among the most treatable injuries we handle when you take the right steps in the first hour. The 'ABC' protocol you'll hear about isn't medical jargon to confuse you. It's a checklist that saves lives — Airway, Breathing, Circulation. Done right, in sequence, by a trained team in a dedicated Burns ICU, the difference is dramatic.
People come to us from Vijayawada, Guntur, Krishna, Eluru, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and overseas. Many arrive after being told 'nothing more can be done.' That is rarely true. Modern plastic surgery — done well — restores skin, function, and dignity. And cost should never be the reason a child or a laborer is left disfigured: the Burn Healing Foundation at our hospital exists for exactly that.
ABC Burns Treatment
'ABC' is the first 60 seconds of burn management. Every burn patient walking into Pratap Hospital is assessed against it before anything else.
Anatomy & Surgical Foundations
- A — Airway Was the burn in a closed room? Was there smoke? Are there burns on the face, around the nose, or singed nose hair? Heat and smoke can swell the airway, blocking breathing within minutes. We secure it first — sometimes with a breathing tube — before swelling sets in.
- B — Breathing Smoke inhalation can poison the lungs even when the skin appears fine. We check oxygen, listen to the chest, and start oxygen or ventilator support if needed. This is invisible to the family — but it's where many burn deaths come from when missed.
- C — Circulation Burns leak massive fluid. Blood pressure drops. Kidneys can fail in hours if fluid isn't replaced in the right amount, at the right speed, by the right formula (Parkland formula). This is calculated patient-by-patient, monitored hourly. A general hospital may not do this with the precision a dedicated Burns ICU does.
Anatomy & Surgical Foundations
- Pediatric Burns Children's skin is one-third as thick as an adult's. A pot of hot tea can cause a 3rd-degree burn. Common causes: hot liquids in the kitchen, fireworks (Deepavali), tractor exhaust burns in villages, and electric heater burns in winter. At Pratap Hospital: • Parent stays in the room with the child. • Gentle, sedation-supported dressing changes. • Growth-aware reconstruction planning — surgeries are timed with growth spurts. • Play therapy for psychological recovery.
- Elderly Burns Thinner skin, slower healing, multiple medical conditions. Pneumonia and kidney failure are real risks. We coordinate with cardiology, nephrology, and endocrinology in-house.
- Electrical Burns Looks small on the skin. Massive damage underneath, through muscle and nerves. Common in farmers, electricians, and children playing near transformers. Needs immediate Burns ICU, often emergency fasciotomy (releasing pressure in muscle compartments).
- Chemical Burns Acid attacks, industrial accidents, and kitchen accidents. Continue washing with water for at least 60 minutes — much longer than thermal burns. Bring the chemical bottle/container if possible. Different chemicals need different antidotes.
If you only read this table, you'll know more than most patients walking into their first consultation.
| What is 'Burns ABC'? | The lifesaving first protocol: Airway, Breathing, Circulation. The first 60 minutes make a big difference. |
| When to rush to the hospital? | Any burn on face/hands/genitals/joints, any 3rd-degree burn, any burn larger than your palm, any electrical/chemical burn, any burn in a child or elderly — go immediately. |
| What should I NOT do at home? | No toothpaste, no butter, no ice, no oil, no haldi, no cotton wool. These cause more damage. |
| What SHOULD I do in the first 10 min? | Cool the burn under clean running tap water for 20 minutes. Cover with clean cling film or a clean cotton cloth. Come to the hospital. |
| Available 24/7? | Yes. Burns ICU, on-call plastic surgeons, anaesthesia and microsurgery team round-the-clock. |
| Who treats burns at Pratap Hospital? | Dr. Pratap Duggirala — MS, MCh (Plastic Surgery), All India 2nd Rank, Safdarjung Hospital-trained, ASPS / ISAPS / IAAPS member. 15+ years and 5000+ procedures. |
| Can poor families afford this? | Yes. The Burn Healing Foundation at Pratap Hospital supports free reconstructive care for those who cannot afford it. Andhra Pradesh's only Central Government–approved centre for Gender Affirmation Surgeries also reflects our trust ecosystem. |
| Insurance accepted? | Most cashless insurance, Aarogyasri & corporate health schemes are accepted. We help you with paperwork. |
| How long is the recovery? | Minor burns: 1–2 weeks. Moderate: 3–6 weeks. Major burns with grafting: 2–6 months, plus rehabilitation. We'll give you a realistic plan. |
What you do in the first 10 minutes can change everything. Most families panic and reach for kitchen remedies. Please don't. Here is exactly what to do and exactly what to avoid.
✓ Good Candidates
- 1. Stop the burn. Move away from the heat source. If clothes are on fire — Stop, Drop, Roll. If electrical — switch off the main supply first.
- 2. Cool the burn under clean running tap water for 20 minutes. Not ice. Not freezing water. Just normal tap water. Even 3 hours later, cooling still helps a little.
- 3. Remove jewelry, watches, belts, tight clothing around the burn — before swelling locks them in.
- 4. Cover with cling film (the kitchen plastic wrap) or a clean cotton cloth. Cling film is sterile, doesn't stick, and lets us see the burn.
- 5. Take a photo with your phone. Send it on WhatsApp to us. We can advise in minutes whether to come immediately or do simple home care.
- 6. Come to a burns-equipped hospital. Don't waste time on local clinics for anything bigger than a small kitchen scald.
✕ When to Wait or Reconsider
- Toothpaste/Colgate Traps heat in the skin, contaminates the wound, makes our cleaning painful and longer.
- Butter/ghee /coconut oil Holds heat in, encourages bacterial infection, and hides the burn from us.
- Ice or freezing water Causes a second 'cold injury' on top of the burn. Deepens the damage.
- Haldi/turmeric paste Stains the wound, irritates exposed tissue, and increases the risk of infection.
- Bursting blisters Blisters are nature's bandage. Bursting them opens the door to infection.
- Cotton wool directly on the burn Fibres stick to raw flesh. Removal becomes painful and damaging.
- Waiting overnight 'to see' Burn depth gets worse over 48 hours. Early action prevents the need for skin grafts.
Hour 0–1 — Arrival
ABC assessment. IV fluids started using the Parkland formula. Tetanus shot. Pain relief. Photographs of the burn for the record.
Hour 1–24 — Stabilization
Fluid balance every hour. Wound assessment under sterile conditions. Perform initial debridement (cleaning) under anesthesia if needed. Family meeting — we explain everything.
Day 2–7 — Wound Care & Surgical Planning
Dr. Pratap personally performs every surgical step, utilizing tension-free multi-layer closures with absorbable sutures to ensure minimal scar tension.
Day 7–21 — Surgery & Skin Grafting
We excise deep areas and cover them with the patient's own skin (split-thickness skin graft, STSG). For very large burns, we may use temporary biological covers, often requiring multiple staged surgeries.
Week 3–8 — Healing & Early Rehabilitation
Physiotherapy starts EARLY — usually on day 2 — to prevent contractures. Splints and pressure garments are fitted. Scar care begins.
Month 2–12 — Scar Maturation
Silicone sheets; pressure garments worn 23 hours/day for up to 12 months. Scar massage. Steroid injections if the scars get raised. We review every 4–6 weeks.
Year 1+ — Reconstruction (If Needed)
If joints have become stiff or scars look bad, we plan reconstruction — Z-plasty, flap surgery, tissue expansion. See our Post Burn Contracture page for details.
| Timeline | Expected Sensation | Activity Allowed | Garment Care |
|---|
We believe in complete pricing transparency with no hidden theatre or consumable surprises.
| Procedure Variant | Cost in Vijayawada (₹) | Cost in Mumbai / Bangalore (₹) | What It Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor (outpatient) | Very affordable | 2–3× higher | Day-care, twilight sedation, garment, 6-month follow-up |
| Moderate (admission, grafting) | Substantially lower than metros | Higher; long waits | Surgery, anesthesia, 1 night stay, garment kit, 1-year follow-up |
| Major (ICU, multiple surgeries) | insurance & Foundation support available | Often outside insurance caps | Comprehensive cervicofacial redraping, private suite care |
| Reconstruction (1+ year later) | Burn Healing Foundation – free for those who cannot afford | Out-of-pocket usually |
Want a personalized quote for your specific anatomy?
Get My Itemized Quote1. What does 'ABC' stand for in burn treatment?
ABC stands for Airway, Breathing, Circulation — the first three things any burn team checks, in that order, when a patient arrives. It's the foundation of saving lives in the first hour.
2. Is it safe to bring a major burn patient to Pratap Hospital from another city?
Yes. For burns of any size, we coordinate with the referring hospital, advise on IV fluids during transport, and offer ambulance pickup in nearby districts. WhatsApp us before you start the journey.
3. How long will my loved one stay in the Burns ICU?
Minor admissions: 2–5 days. Moderate burns: 1–2 weeks. Major burns with multiple grafting surgeries: 4–8 weeks or longer. We update the family every single day.
4. Will the patient look 'normal' again?
Honestly: depends on depth, location, and how early we operate. Modern grafting and reconstructive techniques can give very good results — but a 100% pre-burn appearance is rarely possible for deep burns. Our job is to achieve the best possible physical outcome and walk you through every step.
5. Will my child's growth be affected by burns?
Burn scars don't grow with the child, which is why pediatric reconstructive surgeries are usually staged at specific growth milestones. We plan a long-term roadmap, not just one surgery.
6. Can old burn scars from years ago still be treated?
Yes. Even 10–20-year-old scars and contractures can often be released and reconstructed. See our Post Burn Contracture page.
7. Do you accept Aarogyasri / insurance?
Yes. Cashless tie-ups with major insurance providers, Aarogyasri for eligible families, and corporate health schemes. Our front office helps with paperwork.
8. Is there free treatment available?
For reconstructive care after burns, the Burn Healing Foundation supports patients who cannot afford treatment. Please speak to our coordinator.
9. What if I'm scared to call?
WhatsApp us. Send a photo of the burn or a written description. Our team replies in minutes, confidentially, in Telugu, English or Hindi. No question is too small.
10. Why come to Vijayawada instead of Hyderabad, Delhi or abroad?
Same elite training (Dr. Pratap is Safdarjung Hospital-trained, ASPS member, President-elect of the Indian Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery), same protocols, dedicated burns infrastructure, and 40–60% lower cost. Many metro surgeons trained alongside or under Dr. Pratap.
"At 52, I hated how my neck looked in photos at family functions. Dr. Pratap performed a neck lift and lipo. The result looks completely natural — friends tell me I look refreshed and energetic."
