What IV Fluids Are Used for Burn Patients?
Burn patients often require intravenous (IV) fluid resuscitation to compensate for fluid loss and prevent shock. The most commonly used fluid is Lactated Ringer's solution. However, alternatives like Isolyte or Plasmalyte are also acceptable.
The American Burn Association's Advanced Burn Life Support course recommends Lactated Ringer's as the primary IV fluid. This recommendation is supported by multiple sources [1, 2, 3]. The choice of fluid and the amount administered are often determined by the extent of the burn, the patient's weight, and other factors. Specific formulas, such as the Parkland formula (also known as the Baxter formula) [4, 5, 6, 7], are used to calculate the total fluid requirements over the initial 24 hours post-burn. These formulas help guide the clinician in delivering adequate fluid replacement.
Commonly Used Fluids:
- Lactated Ringer's Solution: The most prevalent choice, offering a balanced electrolyte solution.
- Isolyte/Plasmalyte: Suitable alternatives to Lactated Ringer's, providing similar electrolyte composition.
The selection of IV fluids is crucial to prevent complications like hypovolemic shock and acute kidney injury [8]. The administration of fluids is often carefully monitored and adjusted based on the patient's response and ongoing assessment [9, 10].
Note: The specific fluid and dosage are always determined by a medical professional based on the individual patient's condition and needs. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.
References:
- American Burn Association Advanced Burn Life Support course (as stated in prompt)
- McGovern Medical School, Burn Resuscitation Protocol: https://med.uth.edu/surgery/burn-resuscitation-protocol/
- StatPearls, Burn Fluid Management: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534227/
- UpToDate, Emergency care of moderate and severe thermal burns in adults: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/emergency-care-of-moderate-and-severe-thermal-burns-in-adults/print
- StatPearls, Burn Resuscitation and Management: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430795/
- PMC, Fluid management in major burn injuries: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3038406/
- eMedicine, Burn Resuscitation and Early Management: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1277360-overview
- SpringerLink, Fluid Management in Major Burns: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-42205-8_19
- PMC, Pediatric burn resuscitation: past, present, and future: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5582395/
- Osmosis, Parkland Formula: https://www.osmosis.org/answers/parkland-formula
- Cleveland Clinic, IV Fluids: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21635-iv-fluids
