Nutritional support of the burned patient.

Patients with major thermal injury exhibit hypermetabolism as a result of neurohormonal alterations. Thus caloric requirements are exaggerated. Failure to provide supranormal caloric intake by both enteral and parenteral routes is associated with pronounced weight loss, delayed wound healing, decreased host resistance, and cellular dysfunction. Special dietary programs delivered early in the course of treatment must be utilized to prevent these complications of acute postburn malnutrition.