Prognostic significance of early cardiac index measurements in severely burned patients.

Invasive monitoring during early resuscitation was performed. To compare the heamodynamic results of severely burned patients, the results of 38 patients hospitalized between 1988 and 1991 in the burn centre of Lyon were retrospectively reviewed. Survivors and non-Survivors' data were compared. No difference existed between the two groups in age, unit burn score, fluid requirement and dose of dobutamine. Survivors had a significantly higher cardiac index, O2 delivery and systolic blood pressure index than non-survivors. It is suggested that the ability to sustain a high cardiac index in response to the burn injury plays a role in the outcome of the patients. There is an indication that dobutamine could have a beneficial effect in this way. Further studies are needed to confirm the benefit of the maintenance of high cardiac index levels by the pressors.