Emergency Medicine Practice Test 2026 – Complete Exam Preparation

For adult patients who have sustained major burns, the typical total fluid requirement in the first 24 hours is between 4-9 mL/kg/24 hours. This range is grounded in established guidelines for burn management, particularly those developed by the American Burn Association and the Parkland formula, which helps determine fluid resuscitation needs based on the extent of burns.

When a patient experiences significant burns, their body undergoes physiological changes that necessitate careful fluid management to prevent complications such as hypovolemia and shock. The recommendation of 4-9 mL/kg is based on studies that assess the appropriate volume of crystalloid fluids necessary to maintain adequate organ perfusion and support vital functions during the critical initial post-burn period.

Using this approach, the formula aids in calculating an individual's fluid needs tailored to their weight and the percentage of total body surface area involved in the burns. The recognition of the increased metabolic demands and insensible losses that occur in the presence of burns justifies the importance of an accurate fluid resuscitation strategy in these critical patients. This understanding underscores why the specified range of 4-9 mL/kg/24 hours is appropriate for this scenario.