How Is Burn Patient Fluid Resuscitation Calculated?
Severe burns cause rapid fluid loss through damaged skin, making early fluid resuscitation critical. This calculator uses the widely-used Parkland formula: enter weight and burn area (%TBSA) to get a reference for the total fluid needed in the first 24 hours and the hourly infusion rate.
The Parkland Formula and Infusion Schedule
The Parkland formula calculates the 24-hour total as weight (kg) x burn area (%) x 4 ml, with half given in the first 8 hours after the burn and the other half over the remaining 16 hours. The faster rate early on reflects that fluid loss is greatest in the initial hours after a burn injury.
Reference Only — Medical Judgment Comes First
This calculator's result is a formula-based reference figure only. Actual fluid therapy must be adjusted by medical professionals considering the patient's age, comorbidities, urine output, and vital signs. Even assessing burn area (%TBSA) itself requires clinical evaluation, so use this tool only to understand the underlying concept.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's a widely used formula for estimating the first 24-hour fluid resuscitation for burn patients, calculated as weight (kg) x burn area (%TBSA) x 4 ml, with half given in the first 8 hours and half in the remaining 16 hours.
No. This result is a formula-based reference value only. Actual fluid therapy must be determined and adjusted by medical professionals based on the patient's condition and clinical findings.
Common methods include the 'Rule of Nines,' which assigns percentages to body regions, or the palm method where the patient's palm equals about 1%. Accurate assessment requires clinical evaluation.