Effects of burns on inhalation injury.
BACKGROUND
There are few studies of smoke injury combined with thermal burn.


METHODS
Seven sheep (G1) received smoke injury alone; eight (G2) received a 40% full-thickness scald burn immediately after smoke injury. All animals were resuscitated with lactated Ringer's solution and killed 48 hours after injury. Cardiopulmonary variables and blood gases were measured serially. Ventilation perfusion distribution was analyzed using the multiple inert gas elimination technique. Lung wet to dry weight ratio and malondialdehyde levels were determined.


RESULTS
G2 resulted in early significant hemodynamic changes. Serum total protein concentration was significantly lower and malondialdehyde significantly higher in G2. However, PaO2, lung wet to dry weight ratio, and ventilation perfusion mismatching in G2 did not differ from those in G1.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the addition of burn injury exaggerated the lung lipid peroxidation and hypoproteinemia in the presence of more pronounced hemodynamic changes, the pulmonary dysfunction was not accentuated.
Tasaki
O
O
US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX 78234-6315, USA.
Goodwin
C W
CW
Saitoh
D
D
Mozingo
D W
DW
Ishihara
S
S
Brinkley
W W
WW
Cioffi
W G
WG
Pruitt
B A
BA
D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055370:Lung Injury; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012756:Sheep; D015208:Smoke Inhalation Injury / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*