An emergency department nurse has just received a burn victim brought in by ambulance. The paramedics have started a large-bore IV and covered the burn in cool towels

Question

The burn is estimated as covering 24% of the patient's body. The nurse knows that pathophysiologic changes resulting from major burns during the initial burn-shock period include what?
A) Hyper-dynamic anabolism
B) Hyper-metabolic catabolism
C) Decreased cardiac output
D) Organ hyper-function

Answer 1

Ans: C
Feedback: Pathophysiologic changes resulting from major burns during the initial burn-shock period include tissue hypo-perfusion and organ hypo-function secondary to decreased cardiac output, followed by a hyper-dynamic and hyper-metabolic phase. Options A and B are distracters for this question.