Explain the Systemic Metabolic Responses?
Many of the metabolic responses to infection are similar to those following injury. The key changes include:
Hyper metabolism: Oxygen consumption is elevated in the infected patient. It may be 50-60% higher than normal and is related to the severity of the infection (PaCO3 of < 32 mmHg-hypelventilation). In the pre-operative and post injury period, such a response often occurs secondary to severe pneumonia, abdominal infection or wound infection. Increased metabolism is related to fever -being 10-13% for every 1°C elevation in temperature. The metabolic rate returns to normal as the infection resolves.