Immunologic response of trauma and burns. An overview.

Immunologic alterations occur after elective surgery, accidental injuries, and burns. These alterations are dose-related, that is, minor insults bring about minor alterations that appear to be of no clinical relevance, but major accidents and extensive burns cause major alterations, which have been correlated with the incidence of life-threatening septic complications. Because many aspects of the immune system seem to be affected, a concerted move in the direction of immunologic manipulation of the surgically injured patient has been difficult. Nevertheless, several potentially promising avenues of immune modulation are currently undergoing clinical trials.