Nutritional support of the burned patient

Burn patients develop a number of physiologic alterations among which is a markedly increased metabolic rate. Other metabolic changes include an increased rate of glucose production and utilization, a decreased rate of lipid metabolism, and an increased rate of both protein catabolism and anabolism. These alterations can effect other physiologic parameters, including immune function. They necessitate administration of large quantities of calories and protein to achieve positive nitrogen balance. The physiologic derangements leading to the hypermetabolism and the methods for supplying the nutritional needs are discussed in this review.