Severe Burn Patients More Likely to Suffer Heart Complications

Every one of us has suffered a burn from time to time. Mostly the type is of the first degree that just causes redness of the skin. Second degree burns will cause a blister and may require a little more attention, but will likely be recovered from soon unless they are all over the body. Third degree burns, however, will require special medical attention and will usually be treated in specialized medical centers. Third degree burns destroy the nerve endings on the skin so they may not actually be painful.

Severe burn patients were known to have a high rate of fatalities. Doctors have not known exactly why this is the case though. A study conducted on 189 children at the Shriner Children's Hospitals showed that only one-fifth of the patients admitted for treatment of severe burns retained normal heart function. 80% had the function of the organ responsible for pumping blood impaired in some way and other critical systems of the body were also shown to be affected negatively by this type of injury.

The reasons for this happen to do with the increased demands placed on the various systems of the body after a person suffers a severe burn. Fat stores are used up at a much higher rate, and the increased stress on the heart and liver causes longer healing times for wounds and making people who suffer from third degree burns far more vulnerable to infections.

The findings of the study conducted at the Shriner's Children's Hospitals will impact how the injury is treated. In the future not only should doctors monitor for possible problems with the heart, but according to Marc Jeschke, the leader researcher medical professionals should also monitor inflammatory response, insulin resistance, hypermetabolism, catabolism, and heart problems.