• 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 238  (2) , 296-304
Abstract
The cardiovascular changes induced by 15% total body surface area 3rd degree burn were studied in dogs anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital. The responses were a decrease in plasma volume, a decrease in cardiac output and an insignificant fall in mean arterial blood pressure. .beta.-adrenergic blockade with propranolol prior to thermal trauma reduced the plasma volume loss, increased the depression of cardiac output and caused a rise in mean arterial blood pressure. Apparently .beta.-adrenergic stimulation contributes to the plasma volume loss and the slight fall in mean arterial pressure seen after thermal trauma.