general vasculature effects of a burn
Last reviewed 01/2018
The general vascular effects of a burn include:
- reduced cardiac output due to several factors:
- intrinsic depression of myocardial contractility; this may be the effect of a myocardial depressant
- decreased venous return and preload due to loss of circulating volume across leaking capillaries
- increased afterload due to elevated systemic vascular resistance
- increased systemic vascular resistance due to:
- sympathetic nervous system stimulation
- hormonal vasoconstriction:
- catecholamines
- ADH
- neuropeptide Y
- angiotensin II
- pulmonary oedema due to:
- direct injury to vessels as a result of inhalation
- increased capillary permeability
- increased capillary pressure
- increased pulmonary vascular resistance
- reduced output of the left side of the heart
- reduced oncotic pressure of plasma