Trauma: The Burn Patient

In this chapter the essential aspects of anesthetic management of the burn patient are discussed. Subtopics include use of the Parkland formula for calculating fluid requirements, airway considerations, and carbon monoxide toxicity. The differences between first-, second-, and third-degree burns are also discussed. The chapter is divided into preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative sections with important subtopics related to the main topic in each section. Issues discussed that are related to preoperative evaluation include initial assessment, calculating percentage of body area burned, and airway evaluation. Topics related to intraoperative management include muscle relaxation, monitoring, and fluid therapy. Postoperative issues involve extubation criteria and treatment to induce muscle relaxation.