Fluid Resuscitation and Cardiovascular Support in Acute Burn Care

Acute burn injury creates a complex and multifactorial local response which may have systemic sequelae such as hypovolemia, hypothermia, cardiovascular collapse, hypercoagulability, and multi-system organ failure. Understanding the underlying pathophysiology of burn shock, the initial burn triage and assessment, calculation of fluid requirements, and the means of tailoring ongoing interventions to optimize resuscitation are critical for overcoming the wide spectrum of derangements which this condition creates. As a result, this article discusses the various key points in order to garner a greater understanding of these nuances and the optimal pathway to take when tackling these challenging issues.