A study of the types and the mechanism of acid-base disorder in severe burn patients at the shock stage

Objective: To study of the types and the mechanism of acid-base disorder in severe burn patients at the shock stage. Method: 72 severe burn patients were randomly enrolled in this study. Parameters of arterial blood test and serum electrolytes were analyzed. Result: 66 out of the 72 patients had acid-base disorder; 28 cases had simple acid-base disorder (SABD), most of them had metabolic acidosis. 23 cases had double acid-base disorder (DABD); 11 cases had mixed respiratory alkalosis and metabolic acidosis. 15 cases had triple acid –base disorder (TABD), 11 cases had mixed respiratory alkalosis and increased AG metabolic acidosis and metabolic alkalosis. The plasma AG volume in the case with metabolic acidosis was significantly higher than that of the normal group (P0.01). The volume of sodium bicarbonate administered to the patients with TABD, during the 1 st 24 hrs post burn was significantly more than that of patients with non-TABD (P0.01). Conclusion: Acid-base disorder of severe burn patients at shock stage is very complicated. Metabolic acidosis, mixed respiratory alkalosis and metabolic acidosis, mixed respiratory alkalosis and increased AG metabolic acidosis and metabolic alkalosis are commonly seen. Most of the cases with metabolic acidosis are of the type withincreased AG. TABD is not unusual and is related to abuse of sodium bicarbonate.