Hydrocortisone improved haemodynamics and fluid requirement in surviving but not non-surviving of severely burned patients

• Published in: Burns 2003-11, Vol.29 (7), p.717-720
• Main Authors: Winter, W, Kamolz, L, Donner, A, Hoerauf, K, Blaicher, A, Andel, H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Burns; Burns - drug therapy; Burns - pathology; Burns - physiopathology; Cardiac Output - drug effects; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Enddiastolic volume index; Female; Fluid Therapy; Humans; Hydrocortisone - therapeutic use; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Norepinephrine; Norepinephrine - administration & dosage; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Shock, Septic - drug therapy; Shock, Septic - physiopathology; Skin, nail, hair, dermoskeleton; Trauma Severity Indices; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Vasoconstrictor Agents - administration & dosage; Vasopressor-dependent
• ISSN: 0305-4179; 1879-1409
• DOI: 10.1016/S0305-4179(03)00148-7

Recent studies have shown that administration of hydrocortisone may lead to a reduction of catecholamines and to an improved outcome in septic patients. However, there are no data on the use of hydrocortisone in burn patients although in these patients reduction of vasopressors might be even more crucial for outcome due to improvement of skin perfusion. This study presents the first results on the impact of hydrocortisone administration in norepinephrine dependent severely burned patients. In a prospective cohort study fourteen consecutive severely burned patients received, 12 h after norepinephrine dependency, a hydrocortisone bolus of 100 mg followed by 0.18 mg/(kg h) hydrocortisone. The course of the necessary norepinephrine dose, as well as the fluid balance was documented 12 h prior and after the first dosage of hydrocortisone. Statistical analysis showed an unexpected increase of the required norepinephrine dosage. A statistical post hoc evaluation of surviving and non-surviving patients revealed a significant increase of norepinephrine in non-survivors whereas in survivors it was possible to reduce norepinephrine significantly. Furthermore, the median fluid requirement of surviving patients could be significantly reduced whereas in the group of non-survivors there was no change of volume needed. Our data suggests that hydrocortisone might be useful in selected patients with severe burn injuries. However, patients not responding to hydrocortisone administrations seem to have a poor prognosis. Our findings are in contrast to previously published data on septic patients, in whom hydrocortisone administration resulted in a reduction of norepinephrine. In burned patients the severity of trauma seems to have more profound influence on the pathophysiological mechanism of sepsis. Due to the high number of non-responders, the potential immune suppression and impaired wound healing caused by the side effects of hydrocortisone, further selection criteria seem to be necessary. A short ACTH-test might be considered prior to hydrocortisone administration to select patients who might benefit from this therapy. In summary, further prospective controlled studies will be necessary to establish hydrocortisone in the routine therapy of severely burned patients.