Emergency treatment of severely burned pediatric patients: current therapeutic strategies

Burn trauma represents a devastating injury and remains as one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in children. Effective prevention strategies, advances in therapeutic techniques, based on an improved understanding of fluid resuscitation, appropriate infection control and improved treatment of inhalation injury, enhanced wound coverage, better nutritional regimens, advanced support of the hypermetabolic response to injury and improved glucose control, have significantly improved the clinical outcome of this unique patient population over the past years. This article aims to outline the current and emerging therapeutic strategies for the treatment of severely burned pediatric patients in the emergency department or initial phase of the intensive care unit.