Obesity: a risk factor in the burn patient.

Obesity is seldom recognized as a risk factor for the patient with burns. However, the overweight patient with burns presents major problems for the burn team, especially in the areas of wound care, pulmonary care, and general nursing care. One-hundred eighty adults (9.1% weighed more than 45 kg above ideal body weight or more than 100 kg in total weight. Mean weight was 110 kg, with 155 patients heavier than 100 kg. Mean age was 38 years with a mean burn size of 26% (11% full-thickness). The mortality rate was 21%, and respiratory and cardiovascular complications occurred in 33% of these patients. The obese patient presents problems disproportionate to burn size, burn location, and age. The obese patient's problems are related to weight. Care is often compromised by the physical constraints of a patient's size.