Metabolic Changes Following Major Burn Injury: How to Improve Outcome

The hypermetabolic response that follows a severe burn cannot be halted or reversed, however with the use of prompt surgical intervention to remove the burn eschar, aggressive treatment of developing sepsis, early enteral feeding of high carbohydrate high protein diet together with a program of resistance exercises there are several ways that its effects can be limited. Adding to this an anabolic agent with or without an anticatabolic catecholamine antagonist we will be able to ameliorate the difficult sequelae to an already tragic event. Looking to the future with gene profiling, our understanding of this complex process can only increase and with it better treatment and care for our patients.