Improved markers for burn wound perfusion in the severely burned patient: the role for tissue and gastric Pco2.

Improved markers of resuscitation are needed in patients with severe burn injuries. In previous animal and human work, we showed 1) wound hypoperfusion plays a role in burn depth progression, 2) that there are periods of repetitive ischemia and reperfusion which correlate closely to wound hypoperfusion, and 3) that wound and splanchnic bed CO2 measurements are dependent on the adequacy of resuscitation. We and others believe that current markers for resuscitation, urine output (U/O), and mean arterial pressure (MAP), lag behind in reflecting wound perfusion. In this study, we explore whether gastric and tissue tonometry are better in reflecting minute-to-minute changes in wound perfusion in humans. During the 48-hour experimental period, burn wound, gastric, and arterial pH, Pco2, and PaO2 were measured every 6 seconds using a Paratrend 7 monitor in four patients with life threatening burns. Slopes of change were analyzed and a proportion derived relative to pooled data on 5-minute intervals. Serum lactate, U/O, and MAP were recorded. Laser Doppler Imager (LDI) scans were performed on burn areas every 4 hours, allowing real-time determination of burn perfusion. Resuscitation followed current clinical guidelines. All four patients eventually succumbed, one doing so during the observation period. In the remaining three, U/O and MAP goals were met within 2 hours of resuscitation. Our analysis shows cyclic changes in burn wound pH, CO2, and PaO2, gastric CO2, and PaO2, and arterial base deficit (all P < .005). LDI showed cyclic changes in perfusion (P < .0001) which closely mimic the changes in wound pH, gastric CO2, and arterial base deficit. These changes preceded changes in U/O, MAP, and lactate. Although U/O, MAP, and serum lactate reflect changes in burn wound perfusion, they lag behind other markers. Tissue pH and CO2 and gastric CO2 seem to be more timely related to changes in actual burn perfusion.

Repetitive ischemia-reperfusion injury: a plausible mechanism for documented clinical burn-depth progression after thermal injury.

Our previous studies confirmed the phenomenon of burn depth progression despite adequate Parkland formula resuscitation [Kim et al. J Burn Care Rehabil 2001;22960:406-6]. Repetitive ischemia-reperfusion injury (I-R) is a plausible explanation and is suggested by the concomitant swings we have observed in serum base deficit (BD) during resuscitation from burn shock. We chose to explore whether laser Doppler imaging (LDI) evidence of burn depth progression mirrored cycles of I-R (episodic swings in continuously measured BD). Positive findings would support the hypothesis that repetitive episodes of I-R is a factor in burn depth progression despite apparently adequate resuscitation. A total of 14 patients with severe life-threatening burns (median 51% TBSA) underwent continuous BD monitoring using a Paratrend 7 (Malvern PA) during 48 hours of resuscitation. Fluid needs were estimated using the Parkland formula, then were titrated to urine output. The slopes of BD changes were then analyzed. Worsening of BD greater than 0.2 mmol/l/min was noted, and a proportion derived relative to pooled data on 5-minute intervals. In four of the patients, LDI scans were performed on six representative areas sequentially every 4 hours. The analysis of median flux in these LDI images provided real-time determination of burn depth progression. Eight patients eventually died. Only four patients achieved a normal BD within 12 hours of monitoring despite exceeding the Parkland formula estimate and meeting urinary output parameters. Our analysis also showed cyclical peaks and valleys in the BD curve (P < .001), suggesting repetitive I-R insults. All increases in BD preceded changes that could be detected in vital signs or urine output. Finally, LDI confirmed that the burn depths continued to progress despite apparently adequate resuscitation, and also showed that there are similar peaks and valleys in the perfusion of the wounds (P < .0001), which mimic the changes in the BD curve. Responses to fluid resuscitation do not follow a linear pattern in the case of massive burns. These results in repetitive periods of tissue hypoperfusion evidenced by BD alterations and may contribute to progressive deepening of the burn wound.