Nutritional and pharmacological support of the metabolic response to injury

D. N. Herndon

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Severe burn incites metabolic disturbances which last up to one year post injury. Persistent profound catabolism after severe burn hampers rehabilitative efforts delaying meaningful return of individuals to society. The simplest effective anabolic strategies for severe burn injuries are early excision and grafting of the burn wound, prompt treatment of sepsis, maintenance of environmental temperature at 30-32°C, continuous enteral feeding of a high carbohydrate, high protein diet, early institution of vigorous resistive and aerobic resistive exercise programs. To further minimize erosion of lean body mass administration of recombinant human growth hormone, insulin, oxandrolone or propranolol are all reasonable approaches. Exogenous continuous low dose insulin infusion, beta blockade with propranolol and the use of the synthetic testosterone analog, oxandrolone are the most cost effective and least toxic pharmaco therapies to date.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)264-274
Number of pages11
JournalMinerva Anestesiologica
Volume69
Issue number4
StatePublished - Apr 2003

Keywords

  • Burns, diagnosis
  • Burns, therapy
  • Metabolism
  • Nutritional support

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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