Clinical Evaluation of Saline Solution Therapy in Burn Shock

In 79 burned adults, including 11 with burns of over 50%, treated with saline solution alone, there was no two-day mortality. In 74 other adults, including 14 with burns of over 50%, treated with plasma plus dextrose and water, there was a 12% two-day mortality. Selection of patients was made on a strictly alternating basis. In 73 burned children treated with saline solution alone, there was a 19% two-day mortality. In 92 other children treated with a combination of plasma and saline solution, there was only a 9% mortality. Saline solution therapy is considered good emergency therapy for adults, and addition of plasma to saline solution reduced the over-all acute mortality in children, particularly in the more severely burned.