[Posttraumatic and postoperative catabolism: protein metabolism].

Patients with catabolism during the postoperative phase, after trauma or in a toxifectious state present with serious disorders of their protein metabolism. These alterations are caused mostly by endocrine factors and are characterized by destruction of proteins, gluconeogenesis, ketogenesis and increased renal nitrogen excretion. The nitrogen losses are most important in patients with multiple trauma, in sepsis and in burned patients. In view of the intricate etiology, the treatment of these disorders is difficult.