Medical Field Interview

1. Describe the problem as told by a health care professional
For this interview project, I chose to interview Dr. Shawn Fagan, MD. He is a burn surgeon and intensivist for the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta. Dr. Fagan has is board certified in both surgery and surgical critical care by the American Board of Surgery. He has participated in numerous studies in the area of exfoliative and necrotizing diseases of the skin. He is also a contributing author to a number of textbooks in the area of skin disorders and burns.
When asked about an example of a common healthcare problem that he sees, Dr. Fagan said “Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome (TENS) are two of the most common types

Signs and Symptoms
SJS is characterized by round, red papules that resemble insect bites. Within a short amount of time, these lesions change into varying sizes and patterns. They may become red with white centers that have papules on the center. This gives them a target-like appearance. Although they can be seen on any body surface area, they are usually seen on the face and trunk. (Porth’s, 2014).
TENS is the most serious of these diseases. In many cases, the papules and lesions appear to mimic SJS. Within a few days, there is large, widespread denuded areas. Lateral pressure may cause the surrounding skin to separate easily from the dermis. This is called the Nikolsky sign. (Porth’s, 2014).
7. Treatment
Treatment of both TENS and SJS can involve surgical management and medical treatment. In both cases, the necrotic dermis is removed and a temporary skin covering is put into place to cover the open areas. This can either be a synthetic covering or donated porcine xenograft. Topically, the patient may have silver sulfadiazine, silver nitrate, chlorhexidine gluconate, or polymyxin-bacitracin ointment applied to the wounds. Medically, the treatment may include corticosteroid therapy, cyclosporin A treatment, intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, or thalidomide treatment. (Herndon,