Use of invasive cardiovascular monitoring in patients with burns greater than 30 per cent body surface area: a survey of 251 centres

A survey of the use of invasive cardiovascular monitoring in patients with burns greater than 30 per cent body surface area was performed. Questinnaires were sent to a total of 251 burns units in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The overall response rate was 68 per cent. Most centres reported that they managed less than 20 of these patients each year. Fifty-five per cent of centres used central venous pressure monitoring in more than half of their patients. In contrast, only 8 per cent of burn units used pulmonary artery catheters in over half of their patients. Few centres described the use of predetermined goals to direct therapy associated with PA catheter insertion.