Burn intensive care

Surg Clin North Am. 2014 Aug;94(4):765-79. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2014.05.004. Epub 2014 Jun 16.

Abstract

As a result of continuous development in the treatment of burns, the LD50 (the burn size lethal to 50% of the population) for thermal injuries has risen from 42% total body surface area (TBSA) during the 1940s and 1950s to more than 90% TBSA for young thermally injured patients. This vast improvement in survival is due to simultaneous developments in critical care, advancements in resuscitation, control of infection through early excision, and pharmacologic support of the hypermetabolic response to burns. This article reviews these recent advances and how they influence modern intensive care of burns.

Keywords: Burns; Colloid; Intensive care; Postburn hypermetabolism.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / etiology
  • Acute Kidney Injury / therapy
  • Burns / therapy*
  • Critical Care / methods*
  • Fluid Therapy / methods
  • Humans
  • Hyperglycemia / etiology
  • Hyperglycemia / prevention & control
  • Metabolic Diseases / etiology
  • Metabolic Diseases / therapy
  • Respiration, Artificial / methods
  • Wound Infection / prevention & control