Is supra-Baxter resuscitation in burn patients a new phenomenon?

Friedrich, Jeffrey B; Sullivan, Stephen R; Engrav, Loren H; Round, Kurt A; Blayney, Carolyn B; Carrougher, Gretchen J; Heimbach, David M; Honari, Shari; Klein, Matthew B; Gibran, Nicole S

doi:10.1016/j.burns.2004.01.021

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Volume 30, Issue 5 , Pages 464-466, August 2004

Is supra-Baxter resuscitation in burn patients a new phenomenon?

Jeffrey B Friedrich
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Mailstop 359796, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
Stephen R Sullivan
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Mailstop 359796, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
Loren H Engrav
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Mailstop 359796, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-206-731-3209; fax: +1-206-731-3656.
Kurt A Round
- Department of Pharmacy, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Carolyn B Blayney
- Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
Gretchen J Carrougher
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Mailstop 359796, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
David M Heimbach
- Department of Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Shari Honari
- Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
Matthew B Klein
- Department of Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Nicole S Gibran
- Department of Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

Accepted 21 January 2004.

Abstract

Baxter described the use of 4cm³/kg/%TBSA as a guideline for fluid resuscitation after burns. However, recent studies have shown that, at the present time, patients generally receive greater than the “Baxter” formula. Pruitt has called this phenomenon “fluid creep,” and it has the potential for significant consequences including abdominal and extremity compartment syndromes and severe pulmonary insults. The purpose of this paper is to determine if this supra-Baxter resuscitation is a new phenomenon. We performed a retrospective chart review with two cohorts of patients. Group 1 consisted of 11 patients admitted between 1975 and 1978 to our burn center. Group 2 consisted of 11 patients admitted to our burn center in 2000 who were matched for age, sex, and percent total body surface area burned. Group 1 received 3.6±1.1cm³/kg/% TBSA of fluid in the first 24h. Group 2 received 8.0±2.5cm³/kg/% TBSA, which is 100% more than the Baxter formula. There was no difference in the median age, weight, or 24-h urine output between the two groups. Our data demonstrate that the “fluid creep” phenomenon is relatively new.