Abstract
Burn injuries result in both local and systemic responses. A systemic response occurs when burns reach about 30% total body surface area and can lead to severe cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, and immunological changes. Management of the severely burned patient is a long-term process that must address the local tissue response as well as the systemic, physiological, and social consequences of the injury. Complications of burns include wound infection and sepsis, ongoing hypermetabolism, hypertrophic scarring and keloid formation, heterotopic calcification, edematous tissue, and pressure ulcer formation.
