Respiratory functions in thermal burns

In our present series, respiratory functions were observed in patients with a relatively small extent of burn compared to that commonly represented by the published works, and for a considerable duration of time (three weeks), commencing soon after the burn trauma. Respiratory rate increased in the post burn trauma and the peak expiratory rate was observed on the 8th post burn days and then it gradually fell but still remaining much higher than the control normal value. The minute volume and tidal volume also showed similar rise on the 8th post burn day and then gradually fell to below the mean level of 3rd post burn day before the 3rd post burn week. Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, forced expiratory volume in three seconds, forced expiratory volume in one second as a percentage of forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in three seconds, as a percentage of forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow rates, did not vary much and indicated no significant respiratory abnormality.