The early acidosis of burns: its relationship to extent of burn and management.
Acid-base studies were carried out on 76 consecutive burn patients admitted within 36 hours of injury. Admission blood pH and base excess (BE) values all decreased in a linear relationship to the extent of the burn. Blood Pco-2 changes were unrelated to the extent of the burn. Significant acidosis developed within 2 hours of burn injury. Base requirements for the first two 24 hour periods after burn were linearly proportional to the extent of burn. Base requirements for these two periods were determined and were expressed as: (1) base needed the first 24 hours (milliequivalents per kilogram) equals percent of body surface burned/8; and (2) base needed the second 24 hours (milliequivalents per kilogram) equals base needed the first 24 hours/4. These formulas were found to work satisfactorily in a prospectively treated series of patients.
D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000138:Acidosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001830:Body Surface Area; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D002245:Carbon Dioxide