Description

In the early phase, severe burns induce a state of hypovolaemic shock linked to inflammation and a capillary leak syndrome, responsible for the formation of a voluminous third sector. Initial resuscitation of burn patients is based on an assessment of filling requirements using the Parkland formula, which takes into account the patient's weight and the percentage of burned skin surface. This haemodynamic resuscitation oscillates between a risk of underfilling, responsible for hypovolaemia with low cardiac output and leading to excess mortality, and a state of hydric hyperinflation responsible for numerous complications such as respiratory distress, cardiac failure, abdominal compartment syndrome, and even excess mortality. The necessary adaptation of vascular filling rates is usually achieved by monitoring clinical parameters such as diuresis, or biological parameters such as arterial lactate or haematocrit. More advanced haemodynamic monitoring may be applied in addition, but the targets chosen and their numerical objectives remain to be validated. Due to the burn-induced capillary leak syndrome, quantification of extracellular (intra- and extravascular) fluid volume (ECFV) could be a relevant marker of fluid overload status in severely burned patients. ECFV can be estimated using intravenous glucose. Glucose is distributed throughout the extracellular fluid compartment within a few minutes, and defines an initial volume of glucose distribution (IDVG) proportional to the ECFV. This measurement has been validated in healthy individuals and in various pathological conditions. In intensive care patients, the values are between 3.1 and 4.8 L/m2.

To the best of our knowledge, no study has assessed variations in ECV measured by the LVDI in severely burned patients in the early phase of intensive care. Understanding these variations could make a definite contribution to the adaptation of perfused fluid volumes.