PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ELECTRICAL BURNS

Precipitating factors:
1. Gender

Disruption of
electrical conduction
system of the heart

Electric Shock with High

Voltage

Full thickness burns

Circumferential
burn

Destruction of
nerve sensors

Eschar
formation

No pain
sensation

Possible
dysrhythmia

Decreased
capacity to
expand

Impaired
physical mobility

Compression
of peripheral
nerves
Paresthesia

Compartment
syndrome

Venous
pooling
Decreased
Renal
blood
Tissue
Decreased
flow
damage
GI blood Edema
flow

Superficial partial
thickness burns

Destruction of
capillaries

Increased
capillary
permeability

Na, water and

protein shift
from
intravascular to
interstitial
spaces

Decreased
lumen size of
veins

Decreased
lumen size of
arteries

Precipitating factors:
1. Occupation

Weak peripheral
pulses
Decreased
Increasedblood
CRT
Ineffective
Skin
cool
to
flow to
organ
tissue
touch
systems
perfusion

Increased
concentration of
blood cells

Loss of
25% TBSA

Cell lysis

Impaired
skin
integrity

Thermoregulation
problems

Inflammator
y response

Chills

Impaired
immune
response
Risk for
infection

Decreased
circulatory blood
volume

Massive stress
Burn
shock
response,
Adrenal
sympathetic
corticoid
and
nervous
Peripheral
Increased cathecolamine
response
Decreased
vasoconstriction
afterload
release Tachycardia
cardiac output activation

Increased blood
viscosity

Hyperkalemia
Rhabdomyolosis
Possible
Hgb/myoglobin
in the urine

Intact nerve
sensors
Acute Pain
Ketorolac
30mg IVTT
q 6h