The chief determinant of mortality in severe burn injuries has been the size and severity of the wound. Early massive excision of the wound has increased the median lethal dose to 98% of total body surface area burn but presents the problem of wound closure. Autograft substitutes must be used for a large burn. We report our experience with early massive excision in the treatment of 47 pediatric patients with burns who had greater than 80% total body surface area burn and greater than 80% full-thickness burn. Four patients died within hours of admission. Fifteen patients died of sepsis and multiorgan failure; the primary source of bacterial contamination was the open wound. The 28 survivors received approximately 2.0 m2 2:1 homograft until autograft became available. A case report of a 10-year-old boy illustrates the use of two types of cultured epidermal autograft, one "homegrown" and one commercially produced.