Question

6. How does extensive burns affect each system? System Effect of Extensive Burns Neurological Respiratory Cardiac Digestive Urinary Reproductive Musculoskeletal Integumentary

Answer 1

Effect of burns:

Neurological:

Third degree burns affect the nerve endings fully as they are located deep within. Second degree burns cause some injury to nerve endings but first degree burns are not usually harmful to nerve endings. Third degree burns cause loss of sensation.

Respiratory:

The smoke inhalation is the important hazard of burn injury, causing carbon monoxide or cyanide poisoning and damage to lungs. There will be restricted chest expansion and ventilation obstruction , if there is deep burns on the chest.

Cardiac:

Severe burn injury cause hypovolemic shock and major tissue trauma causing tachy cardia due to myocardial demand for oxygen is increased and decreased cardiac contractility.

All these lead to cardiac dysfunction if the matters are not dealt on time.

Digestive:

The effect of severe burn injury other than direct trauma over the abdomen is that, it alters the bacterial make up in the GI tract. It increases the percentage of harmful bacteria and reduces beneficial bacterial content in the GIT. This condition is called dysbiosis, and can lead to many Gi tract diseases.

Urinary:  

The reduced cardiac output due to hypovolemia can lead to acute renal failure. There will be reduced urine output despite adequate fluid administration and elevated serum levels of urea and creatinine are seen.

Reproductive:

Severe burns can cause altered spermatogenesis and testicular damage, causing reduction in sperm density and motility. Such sperms have very poor fertilization potential.

Musculoskeletal:

Severe burn injury decreases muscular density and volume. Muscular atrophy and contractures are often seen in the affected areas.

Integumentary:

First degree burns cause red non blistered skin with minor inflammation and pain. There will be drying out and peeling of the skin as it heals.

Second degree burns cause blisters and become red and sore. As the burns heal, soft scab like fibrinous tissue develop over it.

Third degree burns are having leathery, white, waxy appearance without blisters. They cause extreme scarring and contractures on healing.