Some physiological changes in burn patients

الملخص EN

This study was designed to estimate some physiological changes to the burn patients ,since the levels of these substances are very important in letting the health care team to know how the body is responding to the different therapies that being provided and this will help the medical staff for proper management with less morbidity and mortality.

The study lasted from November / 2007 to May / 2008.

There are 125 patients and 100 healthy controls (clinically assessed by specialist doctor) are taken in this study .The patients are classified in 5 groups .The ages of these groups were divided as follows: the first group (1-< 3 years) ; the second group (3- < 5 years) ; the third group (5- < 10 years) ; the fourth group (10- < 18 years) ; and the fifth group (18-58 years old ).

Those patients were admitted to the burn unit at Al-Hilla General Teaching Hospital.

They were suffering from second to third degree (flame and scald) burn injury .

Concerning the hematological parameters , it is found that hemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) shows significant decrease (p < 0.01) in comparison with healthy controls.

Regarding the biochemical parameters ,it was found that the total serum protein , albumin and globulin of male and female burn patients shows significant decrease(p<0.01) for all age groups except the males of fourth and fifth groups and the females of fifth group which show significant decrease at level p<0.05.

The serum electrolytes , serum sodium and potassium shows a significant decrease (p < 0.01) before resuscitation and significant increase (p < 0.01) within 2 days duration after resuscitation for male and female burn patients of all age groups .

Finally , the serum of calcium ,copper and zinc shows significant decrease p < 0.01) for males and females of all age groups except the males of first and fourth groups and the females of first and third group which show significant decrease at p < 0.05 for zinc only in comparison with healthy controls.

In view of the changes summarized , the increase or decrease in some hematological and biochemical parameters may be attributed to hyper metabolic state which arises mainly due to increase of adrenaline release ,loss of fluid and electrolytes , hemolysis and sepsis.