Pathophysiology of Burn Injury · NCLEX Exam

Which statement best describes capillary oncotic pressure in burn injury?

  1. It increases due to a rise in circulating plasma proteins
  2. It remains essentially unchanged throughout the early phase
  3. It decreases as plasma proteins leak into the interstitial space
  4. It becomes irrelevant to transcapillary fluid shifts after a burn
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: It decreases as plasma proteins leak into the interstitial space

Plasma protein loss lowers oncotic pressure in capillaries, promoting fluid movement into the interstitial space and worsening edema.

Difficulty: Medium Question 14 of 20

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