Anemia of Thermal Injury: Combined Acute Blood Loss Anemia and Anemia of Critical Illness

Anemia is a pervasive and difficult-to-treat consequence of a severe burn injury. The most effective method of correcting anemia is the transfusion of packed red blood cells, but this therapy is not without complications. Surgical techniques including tourniquets and epinephrine tumescence have reduced blood loss and stricter thresholds have limited transfusions, but for severe burns, transfusion requirements are still massive. In this review of the current literature of anemia of thermal injury, we will provide a new framework for addressing this anemia and will show how this approach may help to develop better interventions and further reduce transfusion rates.