Body composition changes in severely burned children during ICU hospitalization

Model System:

Burn

Reference Type:

Journal article

Accession No.:

J81112

Journal:

Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

2017 , 18, 12, e598-e605

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Study evaluated the degree of body composition changes in different anatomical regions during hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU). Twenty-four severely burned children admitted to the ICU underwent a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry within 2 weeks after injury and 2 weeks before discharge to determine body composition changes. All patients received physical therapy that included active range of motion exercises, stretching of all extremities, and assisted ambulation as tolerated. Changes of bone mineral content, bone mineral density, total fat mass, total mass, and total lean mass of the entire body and specifically the changes between the upper and lower limbs were analyzed. The average age of the 24 patients was 10 years, average total body surface area burned was 59 percent, average time between dual-energy x-ray absorptiometries was 34 days, and average length of stay was 39 days. A significant average loss of 3 percent of lean mass was found in the whole body; this loss was significantly greater in the upper extremities (17 percent) than in the lower extremities (7 percent). A remodeling of the fat compartments was also observed, with a significant whole-body increase in fat mass that was greater in the truncal region and in the lower limbs. Results suggest that ICU hospitalization is associated with greater lean mass loss in the upper limbs of burned children.

Author(s):