Effects of burns on inhalation injury

Background: There are few studies of smoke injury combined with thermal burn. Methods: Seven sheep (G1) received smoke injury alone; eight (G2) received a 40% full-thickness scald burn immediately after smoke injury. All animals were resuscitated with lactated Ringer's solution and killed 48 hours after injury. Cardiopulmonary variables and blood gases were measured serially. Ventilation perfusion distribution was analyzed using the multiple inert gas elimination technique. Lung wet to dry weight ratio and malondialdehyde levels were determined. Results: G2 resulted in early significant hemodynamic changes. Serum total protein concentration was significantly lower and malondialdehyde significantly higher in G2. However, PaO₂, lung wet to dry weight ratio, and ventilation perfusion mismatching in G2 did not differ from those in G1 Conclusions: Although the addition of burn injury exaggerated the lung lipid peroxidation and hypoproteinemia in the presence of more pronounced hemodynamic changes, the pulmonary dysfunction was not accentuated.