[Changes in organ water content in patients with postburn multiple organ failure]

Water contents of lung, heart, kidney, liver, gastro-intestines, and spleen in accident victims with good health (N = 10) and patients with postburn multiple organ failure (PBMOF) (N = 10) were measured. It was found that organ water content of all visceral organs was increased markedly in PBMOF patients. Moreover, the severity of increased organ water content was paralleled with the severity of organ failure. However, there were some differences between the results of the estimated blood volume in different organs. The pulmonary, cardiac and gastrointestinal residual blood water volumes were increased in these patients with PBMOF, indicating that congestion and/or sludging were superimposed in these organs. In contract, the renal and spleen residual blood water volumes were decreased, indicating that these organs were suffered from ischemia. On the other hand, the hepatic residual blood water volume was declined in these PBMOF without hepatic failure. However, it was increased in those with hepatic failure. These results suggested that the increase of organ water content might play an important role in the pathogenesis of organ failure.