Pulmonary complications in burn patients resuscitated with a low-volume colloid solution

• Published in: Burns Vol. 15; no. 5; pp. 281 - 284
• Main Authors: Aharoni, A., Moscona, R., Kremerman, S., Paltieli, Y., Hirshowitz, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.10.1989; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Burns; Burns - mortality; Burns - physiopathology; Burns - therapy; Child; Child, Preschool; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Fluid Therapy - methods; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Plasma Volume - physiology; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - mortality; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - physiopathology; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - prevention & control; Resuscitation; Risk Factors; Survival Rate; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Burn; Human; Skin disease; Respiratory disease; Lung; Complication; Trauma; Resuscitation; Parenteral administration
• ISSN: 0305-4179; 1879-1409
• DOI: 10.1016/0305-4179(89)90001-6

The occurrence of the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and pneumonia was assessed in 482 patients with severe burns, but without evidence of inhalation injury. The patients were resuscitated during the burn shock period with a low-volume formula consisting mainly of plasma. The incidence of ARDS was 2.5 per cent for the entire burn population, and 9.4 per cent for 65 patients with burns covering more than 50 per cent of the body surface area. The general incidence of pneumonia was 4.4 per cent but was 12.5 per cent for the 65 patients with the extensive burns. These incidences were compared with other studies, and a pathophysiological explanation has been offered to explain differences in the frequency of pulmonary complications. The present review indicates that resuscitation with a low-volume formula consisting mainly of colloids can act as prophylaxis for reducing the incidence of ARDS and pneumonia