Critical Care Review

Abstract

Thermal and inhalational injuries pose unique challenges in critical care that extend far beyond volume resuscitation. The inflammatory nature of a burn injury, along with the unique ongoing management of such injuries from a wound care and pain control perspective, necessitate a precisely calibrated approach to this population. As thermal injury frequently involves compromise to the integumentary system and interaction with the extracorporeal environment, questions within this domain can easily span from dermatologic lesions and images to systemic inflammation. Therefore, this topic frequently tangentially spans cardiovascular, immunology, infectious diseases, renal and pulmonary disease. This chapter provides salient clinical insight into the management of these patients, the thought process involved with this type of clinical presentation and offers a well-rounded review for the certification examination.