Burns and smoke inhalation

Burns remain a relatively common form of injury, accounting for more than 10,000 hospital admissions per year in the UK. While only 10% of those admitted require resuscitation, the morbidity and mortality of these patients are significant and determined by the extent and depth of the burn, the presence of inhalation injury, and other comorbidities or co-existing injuries. A systemic inflammatory response is virtually universal in severe burns, and specific criteria to aid the diagnosis of sepsis in these patients have been described. Strategies to influence the hypermetabolic response to severe burns are also being used more widely, although their impact remains to be assessed. Outcome has improved during the past two decades as a result of advances in resuscitation, critical care, nutritional support, and early closure of the burn wound.