The Burning Truth(s)

Abstract

A severe burn is arguably the most significant injury that the human body can sustain. No other form of trauma causes the massive physiological changes seen in a patient with a major burn injury. This is true in the first few weeks as well as up to two years postburn, due to the persistence of the hypermetabolic response.¹ Both the profound alterations in physiology as well as numerous anatomical changes make anaesthesia of the severely burned patient complex and challenging.