Fluid shifts after burn injury.

Following significant burn injury, severe translocations occur in the distribution of water and solute. These result in major deficits in functional extracellular fluid and circulating water volume which may result in shock. The weight of evidence suggests that resuscitational regimens must contain large quantities of water which should be at least isotonic with respect at sodium; and some evidence suggests that current resuscitational regimens may not provide sufficient potassium to maintain the normal relationship between intracellular and extracellular solute and to prevent sodium sequestration. It is clear, however, that most of the currently used resuscitational "formulas" are effective in restoring and maintaining water balance, renal function, cardiac output, and in preventing or correcting shock.