Final answer:
A patient with extensive second- and third-degree burns needs critical care to manage respiratory distress, severe dehydration, and prevent complications like infections. The physician provides intensive care including intravenous fluids, pain management, and wound care.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient who has sustained second- and third-degree burns over 50 percent of their body is in a critical condition and requires immediate and specialized medical care. The physician's role in the intensive care unit (ICU) is to manage the patient's respiratory distress and severe dehydration caused by the damaged skin's inability to retain fluids. The initial two hours of care likely involved rapidly assessing the patient's condition, stabilizing their airway, breathing, and circulation, and beginning intravenous fluid resuscitation to manage the dehydration and prevent shock.
During subsequent visits, such as the additional hour of care mentioned, the physician would continue to monitor and adjust treatments based on the patient's dynamic needs. This can include administering pain relief, wound care to prevent infection, and possibly preparing for surgical interventions such as debridement or grafting. Burn victims may also require nutritional support, as the body requires additional resources to heal.
In addition to physical care, the health care team must also anticipate and manage potential complications like infection, which can spread rapidly in burn patients due to compromised skin barriers.