[The change in tissue oxygenation after severe steam inhalation injury]

Tissue oxygenation was observed in dogs inflicted with steam inhalation injury in this study. Main findings were as follows: there was significant decrease in cardiac output (CO), oxygen delivery (DO2), alveolar oxygen partial pressure (PAO2), arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2), mixed venous oxygen partial pressure (PVO2), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), mixed venous oxygen saturation (SVO2), and pH (P < 0.01), and marked increase in P(A-a)O2, oxygen extraction ratio (ERO2), and arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2) (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). However there was no obvious change in oxygen consumption rate (VO2) within four hours after inhalation injury. The results indicated that the tissue hypoxia was caused directly by insufficient blood perfusion and oxygen supply as well.