A patient with a large burn is noted to have increased systemic vascular resistance despite adequate fluids. What pathophysiologic process explains this?
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Correct answer: Sympathetic activation and mediator-induced endothelial dysfunction raising afterload
Even with fluid restoration, burn injury-induced endothelial dysfunction and sympathetic activation can lead to increased systemic vascular resistance, contributing to persistent vasoconstriction.
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More Pathophysiology of Burn Injury questions
- What is the primary driver for the formation of massive edema in both burned and non‐burned tissue after major burns?
- Why does burn injury sometimes lead to multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) even when initial fluid resuscitation is adequate?
- What is the primary reason for intravascular hypovolemia in the immediate period after a major thermal burn injury (>30% TBSA)?
- Which cellular mechanism contributes to cellular swelling and edema formation after a burn injury?
- What type of shock is characteristic of burn injury in the early phase?
- Which of the following is a hallmark hemodynamic change during the early post-burn period?