Treatment of severe burn cases in the air-fluidized bed

During a half-year period, the air-fluidized bed was used in the treatment of severely burned patients. In most cases good results were obtained. However, in the treatment of a 31-year-old patient with second and third degree burns of 40 per cent of the total body surface area, there occurred severe hypernatraemia, hyperosmolarity of the serum, mental disorientation and decubitus ulcers. The positive and negative results of the treatment are presented. Reasons for the poor results experienced in our series and in other burn centres will be discussed.