The effects of thermal injury on rat skeletal muscle microcirculation

An intravital microscopic study of rat skeletal muscle microvasculature was undertaken to assess changes in peripheral blood flow distant from thermal injury following burning. We found a significant increase in RBC velocity and quantitative flow in arterioles of animals with major thermal injury (28% TBSA full-thickness burn) compared to flow in animals with minor burns (18% TBSA) and control animals. There was no evidence for arteriolar diameter changes, erythrocyte sludging, or leukocyte-endothelial adherence. Major thermal injury is associated with an increase in skeletal muscle arteriolar blood flow distant from the site of injury.