Burns in morbidly obese patients.

It has been estimated that 26% of Americans are obese. A very small subset of this group can be categorized as morbidly obese, fulfilling the criteria of being 100 pounds, or 100%, over ideal body weight. The clinical records of seven morbidly obese burn patients treated over a 20-year period are reviewed. Particularly notable was a 43% incidence of fatal pulmonary embolism.