title: Fluid replacement in burned patients.
abstract: Burn injury involves a large amount of water, electrolytes and proteins loss trough the burn wound. For this reason, to avoid shock, a wide infusion of fluid is necessary in the first hours after trauma. Many reanimation formulas were proposed in the past years, with different composition: saline, colloids, plasma. The authors have studied 40 burned patients admitted in Verona Burn Center within 4 hours after burn, with burns over 30% of the body surface area. Twenty of them were treated with Baxter reanimation formula (ringer lactated saline, RLS) while the others with Monafo hypertonic lactated saline (HLS), modified by Milan Burn Center. The two randomized groups were assessed and compared. In RLS group total fluid volume infused was higher while sodium requirements was lower than in HLS patients, with statistically significative difference (p < 0.01). On the contrary, in HLS group, potassium administered was perhaps twice if compared with the other. Haematocrit, urine output and urine osmolarity were adequate in both the groups, and did not showed statistical differences, such as serum proteins concentration, that was low in all patients, while a significative difference was noted in urine osmolarity (p < 0.01). A metabolic alkalosis was present in HLS patients, while, on the other hand, serum nitrogen was significantly higher (p < 0.05), in the first 48 hours after burn, in RLS group. Patients were assessed for pre-existing diseases too, and data showed that complications were lower in HLS than in RLS group. HLS resuscitation formula guarantees a good electrolytes balance with lower fluid load, reducing tissue oedema and complication rate. Mortality rate was higher in HLS, may be for an higher Roy index in this group.
authors.affiliation: 1st Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ospedale Civile Maggiore-Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bortolani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Governa
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barisoni
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001830:Body Surface Area; D002056:Burns / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000652:urine; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007773:Lactates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000097:blood; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D015532:Rehydration Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077325:Ringer's Lactate; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D014556:Urine
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D004573:Electrolytes; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D007773:Lactates; D015532:Rehydration Solutions; D000077325:Ringer's Lactate; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D012964:Sodium; D009584:Nitrogen; D011188:Potassium