AANA journal course: update for nurse anesthetists--anesthetic considerations for the burn patient

The anesthetic management of a burn trauma patient requires practitioners to have a solid understanding of the pathophysiology of the burn wound, the phases of burn trauma management, and the anesthetic implications for each phase. This article addresses anesthetic considerations during the acute, surgical, and reconstructive phases of care of the burn victim. An overview of the effects of thermal injury on the body systems is presented. Surgical considerations include preoperative evaluation, preparation, and transport, as well as fluid and temperature monitoring. Anesthetic drugs and temperature monitoring. Anesthetic drugs and techniques are discussed, with consideration given to the special concerns of burn patients. The unique features of electrical injuries are described since these bring an added dimension to anesthesia management.