ABSTRACT
Definition A burn is damage caused by pathological excesses of energy within the tissues. This can occur through a number of mechanisms but for the purposes of this chapter, we will limit the discussion to thermal burns. Heat causes protein denaturation at 43°C and cell damage at 45°C. Burn injuries lead to the release of inflammatory mediators that increase capillary permeability-the fluid shift that then occurs may lead to hypovolaemic shock and death.
