The Toronto burn formula is a method used to calculate the estimated daily caloric needs of adult burn patients.
The Formula
The Toronto Formula is expressed as follows:
-4343 + 10.5(TBSA) + 0.23(calorie intake in last 24 h) + 0.84(Harris Benedict estimation without adjustment) + 114(temperature) − 4.5(number of postburn days)
Where:
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TBSA: Total Body Surface Area burned (expressed as a percentage)
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Calorie intake in last 24 h: The actual calorie intake of the patient in the previous 24 hours.
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Harris Benedict estimation without adjustment: The Harris-Benedict equation estimates basal metabolic rate (BMR) and is calculated as follows:
- For men: BMR = 88.362 + (13.397 x weight in kg) + (4.799 x height in cm) - (5.677 x age in years)
- For women: BMR = 447.593 + (9.247 x weight in kg) + (3.098 x height in cm) - (4.330 x age in years)
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Temperature: Patient's body temperature. Units not specified in reference.
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Number of postburn days: The number of days since the burn injury occurred.
Important Considerations
- This formula provides an estimation and should be used in conjunction with clinical assessment and monitoring of the patient's response to nutrition therapy.
- Individual needs may vary, and adjustments to the formula's output may be necessary based on the patient's specific condition and metabolic response.
- This is for adults. Different formulas exist for pediatric patients.
The Toronto Burn Formula aims to provide a more accurate estimation of caloric needs by factoring in several variables specific to burn patients. It builds upon traditional methods by incorporating the previous day's caloric intake, basal metabolic rate estimations, body temperature, and the time elapsed since the burn injury.
