Metabolic management of patients with severe burns

Burn injury results in profound metabolic abnormalities perpetuated by an e xaggerated stress response to injury. Hypermetabolism and marked catabolism , with rapid erosion of lean body mass, becomes evident shortly after injur y. Much of the morbidity and mortality of a major burn can be attributed to this process, which increases infection risks, decreases the healing rate, and alters cell function. Rapid removal of devitalized burn tissue combine d with early aggressive nutritional support significantly attenuates this a utodestructive process. The addition of anabolic agents decreases the degre e of lean mass loss and increases the rate of restoration. Immediate attent ion to the metabolic response to a severe burn significantly decreases comp lications and improves outcome.