The most important reason to closely assess circumferential burns at least every hour is that they may result in:
A . Hypovolemia
B . Renal damage
C . Ventricular arrhythmias
D . Loss of peripheral pulses
Answer: D
Explanation:
(A) Hypovolemia could be a result of fluid loss from thermal injury, but not as a result of the circumferential injury.
(B) Renal damage is typically seen because of prolonged hypovolemia or myoglobinuria.
(C) Electrical injuries and electrolyte changes typically cause arrhythmias in the burn client.
(D) Full-thickness circumferential burns are nonelastic and result in an internal tourniquet effect that compromises distal blood flow when the area involved is an extremity. Circumferential full-thickness torso burns compromise respiratory motion and, when extreme, cardiac return.