Model System:

Burn

Reference Type:

Journal article

Accession No.:

J81114

Journal:

Journal of Burn Care And Research (formerly Journal of Burn Care & Rehabilitation)

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

, 39, 3, 402-412

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Study tested the hypothesis that propranolol, a β-blocker commonly prescribed to burned children, in combination with exercise-heat stress, increases the risk of heat illness and exercise intolerance. In a randomized double-blind study, propranolol was given to 10 burned children, and placebo was given to 10 additional burned children (matched for burn size), while 12 non-burned children served as healthy controls. All groups were matched for age and body morphology. All children exercised in hot conditions (34.3 degrees centigrade; 26 percent relative humidity) at 75 percent of their peak aerobic capacity. At the end of exercise, none of the groups differed for final or change from baseline intestinal temperature, unburned and burned skin temperatures, heat loss, whole-body thermal conductance, or physiological strain index. However, burned children exercised less than the non-burned group and had a lower calculated exercise tolerance index. Burned children had lower peak heart rates than non-burned children (173 vs 189 beats per minute), with greater relative cardiac work rates at the end of exercise (97 vs 85 percent of peak heart rate). Findings suggest that resting β-adrenergic blockade does not affect internal body temperature of burned children exercising at similar relative intensities as non-burned children in the heat. Independent of propranolol, a suppressed cardiac function may be associated to exercise intolerance in children with severe burn injury.

Author(s):

Rivas, Eric|McEntire, Serina J.|Herndon, David N.|Suman, Oscar E.|

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