Microvascular exchange during burn injury: III. Implications of the model.

The present work investigates the implications of the predictions of a dynamic mathematical model of microvascular exchange following a nonresuscitated burn injury in a rat (Bert et al.: Circulatory Shock 28:199-219, 1989). Transport coefficients, transmicrovascular pressures, and the resultant fluid and protein fluxes were examined in order to assess their quantitative importance to the dynamic behavior of small (10% body surface area) and large (40% body surface area) burns. Edema accumulation in the injured tissue is dependent not only on events occurring in that tissue but is influenced strongly by interaction with the plasma and the noninjured tissue compartments.