Burn wound fluid: an important diagnostic source

Burn wound fluid analysis can be useful in representing the physiological changes taking place in the underlying burn tissue micro-environment. These data may relate to cellular components, signalling mediators and protein content, and can provide clues as to the extent of local tissue damage, the depth of the wound and the potential for systemic complications. This information can impact on wound management decisions, and appears to provide a more accurate reflection of the burn wound pathophysiology than traditional blood or serum investigations. This review provides the historical context of burn fluid analysis, and suggests new avenues for utilising this untapped resource.