[Role of increased peripheral vascular resistance in burn shock]

The effect of lethal burn injury on the parameters of hemodynamics and respiration was investigated in intact rabbits and those with disconnected aortal and sinocarotid reflexogenic zones. The rabbits of both groups demonstrated similar changes in cardiac output and total oxygen consumption. Unlike intact animals, the burn in rabbits with disconnected reflexogenic zones did not lead to a marked increase in the peripheral vascular resistance. Accordingly, the systemic arterial blood pressure in them fell to a considerably greater extent than that in the intact animals. The life span of the rabbits exposed to burns was less as compared to the intact ones. A reflex compensatory nature of the increased peripheral vascular resistance in burn shock is suggested.