title: [Pathophysiology of the burn wound].
abstract: The thermal injury produced by the first, second and third degree burn is defined. The degree of thermal damage is characterised by the zones of coagulation, stasis and hyperaemia. The zone of coagulation is definitely lost and the pathophysiological changes in the zone of hyperaemia are spontaneously reversible. The zone of stasis although not immediately destroyed converts to necrosis during the first week after injury owing to a fatal combination of several factors. The healing of a burn wound proceeds from the zone of hyperaemia and follows the same course as in a surgical wound. Modifications of the healing process are produced by the graded nature of the thermal injury and by the presence of coagulated tissue acting as a foreign body. Attempts to reduce the secondary tissue loss concentrate on the zone of stasis the damage to which is considered as potentially reversible. Therapeutic measures positively influencing the pathophysiological processes in a burn wound are discussed.
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D006801:Humans; D009336:Necrosis; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014945:Wound Healing
vernacular_title: Pathophysiologie der Verbrennungswunde.