The Burning Truth(s)

  • Rachel Moore University of Witwatersrand
Keywords: severe burn, massive physiological changes, major burn injury

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 post-burn, 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.

Author Biography

Rachel Moore, University of Witwatersrand
MBBCh, FCS(SA) Specialist Surgeon Department of Anaesthesia and Surgery Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital University of Witwatersrand
Published
2014-05-19
Section
Anaesthetic Supplement