ANTIOXIDANT THERAPY USING HIGH-DOSE VITAMIN-C - REDUCTION OF POSTBURNRESUSCITATION FLUID VOLUME REQUIREMENTS

Twenty-four guinea pigs with third degree burns over 70% of the body s urface area were divided equally into four groups, At 0.5 hours postbu rn, all groups received Ringer's lactate solution (Rn) according to th e Parkland formula, The infusion rate was then reduced to 25% of the P arkland formula at 1.5 hours postburn. Group 1 received only R/L, and groups 2, 3 and 4 received adjuvant vitamin C (14.2 mg/kg/hr) until 4, 8, and 24 hours postburn, respectively. The volume of R/L was reduced by that of vitamin C solution so that the hourly sodium and fluid int ake in each group was the same. Groups 1 and 2 demonstrated higher hem atocrit and lower cardiac output values than did group 3, suggesting h ypovolemia and hemoconcentration in these groups. Group 3 showed hemat ocrit and cardiac output values equivalent to those in group 4. We con clude that high dose vitamin C infusion maintains hemodynamic stabilit y in the presence of a reduced resuscitation fluid volume provided vit amin C is administered for a minimum of 8 hours postburn.