I.  INTRODUCTION

Pulmonary problems are a major source of morbidity and mortality in the burn patient.^1-5   A number of such insults can occur throughout the course of injury and resolution.  Although impaired oxygenation, ventilation and lung mechanics are present in all these disorders, the etiology pathophysiology and treatment approach are very different.  The burn patient undergoes a number of dramatic physiologic and metabolic changes over the course of the injury state.  These changes are so marked that the physician may have the feeling of treating a different patient every several days as the process evolves.  It is essential to have a clear understanding of these pathophysiologic differences and the necessary treatment modifications needed over time following the burn. 

To help clarify this process, the burn injury can be divided into the following phases:  1) The Resuscitation Phase, 2) The Early Post Resuscitation Phase and the 3) Inflammation, Infection or Hypermetabolic Phase.

The pulmonary problems specific to each phase will be discussed.

next: Resusciation Phase