Blood gas studies in dogs with severe steam inhalation injury

The dynamic changes in blood gases in 34 dogs suffering severe steam inhalation injury were studied during the first 14 days post-burn to determine the effects of inhalation injury on lung function. Nineteen dogs received only severe steam inhalation injury, while 15 other dogs received both 30 per cent total body surface area (TBSA) deep burns and steam inhalation injury. The results showed marked reductions of PaO2, PaCO2, AB, SBE, T-CO2, SB, BBp, pHNR and SatO2 (P less than 0.05 approximately 0.01), whereas the P(A-a)O2 increased (P less than 0.05 approximately 0.01) within week 1 post-burn in both groups. These data suggest that the injured animals were suffering from hypoxaemia and respiratory alkalosis induced by disturbance of the gas-exchange function of the lungs. There was also metabolic acidosis, which was closely related to high fever, excessive catabolism, and particularly to hypoxaemia in week 1 post-burn. If the animals survived through the critical period (1-7 days post-burn), most of the abnormal gas parameters then gradually returned to the pre-burn levels. It is clear, therefore, that blood gas monitoring in patients with inhalation injury is not only of diagnostic importance but also of prognostic value.