Increased physiological dead space/tidal volume ratio during exercise in burned children

R. P. Mlcak, M. H. Desai, E. Robinson, R. L. McCauley, J. Richardson, D. N. Herndon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Exercise testing enables the simultaneous evaluation of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems' ability to perform gas exchange. The physiological responses to exercise have not been previously reported in the postburn child. This investigation was designed to evaluate residual cardiopulmonary impairment in patients convalescing from severe burns. Spirometry, lung volumes and exercise stress testing were completed on 40 children with a mean time postburn injury of 2.6 ± 1.9 years and mean burn size of 44 ± 22 per cent TBSA. Respiratory variables studied during exercise included expired volume, tidal volume and respiratory rate, and physiological dead space/tidal volume ( VD VT) ratios. Stress testing revealed an increased VD VT ratio consistent with uneven ventilation-perfusion relationships. The data indicate that patients who survive thermal injury may not regain normal cardiopulmonary homeostasis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)337-339
Number of pages3
JournalBurns
Volume21
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Increased physiological dead space/tidal volume ratio during exercise in burned children'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this