Do changes in burn size affect measured energy expenditures?

A relationship between burn wound closure by excision and grafting and measured or calculated energy expenditures is unproved, Energy expenditures wert; mea- sured bv indirect ealorimetiy IMbhl and calculated by a modified Cur- reri formula (MCEE), adjusted for changes in burn wound size and body weight, in six patients. Secondami third-degree burn wounds, initially involving 34% to 61% of the body surface area, were reduced in size to less than 15% by excision and grafting. There were 76 paired determinations of MbH and MCbb. The correlation between percent optiti burn wound and MKh was not significant (Pearson's r =0.16, P = 0.171). The correlation between MCEE and Mbb was not significant (Pearson's r = 0.13, P = 0.247), Mean MCbbs (2,204-3,030 kcal/ day] and Mbbs (2,404-3,558 kcal/day) were significantly different in two patients. Daily m ine urea nitrogen excretion did not correlate with tile extent or open burn wound (r = 0.22, P = 0.22) or with the MEE (r = 0.14, P = 0.47). Thus, measured energy expenditure does not correlate with bum wound closure. A modiliealion ol the Curreri formula, adjusted for changes in initial burn wound size and body weight, does not correlate with measured energy expenditure.