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General vasculature effects of a burn

Authoring team

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

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