Cardiac function and central circulation in lysine-vasopressin treatment of experimental burns.

Anesthetized piglets were subjected to a standardized full thickness skin burn, covering one third of the body surface area, and given fluid treatment. One group was also submitted to early excision of the burned area 5 h after the burn and another group was excised and given lysine-vasopressin by continuous infusion. In both the excised groups there was earlier circulatory restitution compared with the conservatively treated animals. After 24 h, cardiac function was best in the pigs treated with vasopressin and excision. The mechanisms by which vasopressin treatment and excision might have favourable circulatory effects in burn treatment are discussed.