Problems and complications of burn shock resuscitation.

The problems and complications of the fluid resuscitation phase of the treatment of major thermal burns are many and varied. Emphasis has been placed on the most important organ system responses commonly observed in the first week after injury. The efficacy of treatment and the lack of available treatment are outlined. The mechanical complications occurring from poorly selected and monitored fluid administration sites, complications of monitoring, problems of constrictive edema (usually in the extremities), airway problems, respiratory care, and innumerable other technical aspects were purposely omitted. While these problems and complications are extremely important and occur commonly in our experience, they are in the realm of technical performance of good emergency and intensive care medicine and their optimal management does not affect the problems and complications of the residual organ systems.