[A canine model of brain edema established in the early postburn stage]

To establish a canine model of brain edema in the early stage of severe burn.

Mongrel dogs were inflicted by napalm with 50% TBSA III degree burn. The dogs were randomized into normal control (C), burn (B), burn with balanced salt solution (S) and burn with glucose (G) groups. The macropathological, histopathological and ultrastructural changes of brain tissue and brain water (%) were examined at 6, 12, 18 and 24 postburn hours (PBH), respectively, with simultaneous evaluation of blood brain barrier by (99) TC -- ECD.

Pathological evidence of brain edema exhibited at as early as 6 PBH in B, S and G groups, which included cellular swelling of partial endothelia and pericapillary astrocytes, and ischemic necrosis of endothelia, neurons and axons to varying degrees. All the changes exhibited more and more obvious with the elapse of postburn time. The brain water content in each burn group, especially in G group at 24 PBH, was more than that in C group. It was indicated by nuclide imaging that there appeared gradual increasing of the concentration of (99) TC -- ECD in brain tissue in B and C groups since 6 PBH.

This model was established for the convenience of burn scholars to study the pathogenesis and management of postburn brain edema.