Early Management of Thermal Burns

Abstract

A singularly effective guide to the evaluation and early care of burn injury, emphasizing the importance of fluid resuscitation, is presented here. Although controversy still exists regarding the types of fluid that should be used, the authors and others treating major burns agree that sodium is essential.

Other commonly used systems for fluid resuscitation are the Evans, Brooke, and MGH formulas. Their rationale and use are discussed in “The Treatment of Burns” by C. P. Artz and J. A. Moncrief (W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelpha, 1969) and “Contemporary Burn Management” by H. C. Polk, Jr., and H. H. Stone (Little, Brown and Co., Boston, 1971).

Two important points to remember in burn management are (1) learn one system and use it well and (2) remember that any formula is useful only as a guide and must be modified if necessary.—MSR