Mechanical Ventilation Strategies in the Critically Ill Burn Patient: A Practical Review for Clinicians

Abstract

Burn patients are a unique population when considering strategies for ventilatory support. Frequent surgical operations, inhalation injury, pneumonia, and long durations of mechanical ventilation add to the challenging physiology of severe burn injury. We aim to provide a practical and evidence-based review of mechanical ventilation strategies for the critically ill burn patient that is tailored to the bedside clinician.