Heat production after injury.

Abstract

The changes in heat production after injury (including burns) have been discussed in relation to thermoregulation and its central control. In the early ‘ebb’ phase of the response to injury in the experimental animal, there is a reduction in heat production at ambient tempera tures below thermoneutrality, which is associated with a central inhibition of thermoregulation. Although there is no direct evidence for a reduction in heat production immediately after injury in man, body temperature is often reduced and there is inhibition of a behavioural thermoregulatory response at this time. Later, in the flow phase of the response to injury, there is an increase in heat production in both experimental animals and man. The increase is most marked after burning injury and, although the hypermetabolism is most often ascribed to the increased evaporative water loss, there is good evidence that it is secondary to a resetting of hypothalamic control.