Cardiac compromise in a patient with Down's Syndrome: a lesson learnt

A 49 year old burn victim with Down's Syndrome (Trisomy 21) was admitted with 15% body surface area (BSA) superficial burns. This was complicated by a large atrioseptal defect. Her course was stormy with difficulties encountered in managing her fluid status. Adequate fluid resuscitation was difficult to maintain with a fragile compromise between pulmonary insufficiency and renal impairment. She expired 12 days post-injury. Cardiac anomalies are not uncommon in the subgroup of patients with major burns who respond poorly to fluid resuscitation.