Amie Bedgood, Austin Community College
Parkland's Burn Formula
This formula was designed to help the healthcare provider determine the proper amount of fluids to administer to a patient following a burn. Parkland's burn formula is most useful during the first twenty four hours of fluid resuscitation with second degree or greater burns. Ringers lactate is the fluid of choice and should be administered at 4 mL/kg of body weight per percentage of burn using total body surface area (TBSA) as a guide.
DETERMINING TBSA
In order to determine the TBSA, the Lund-Browder Chart is one method that might be utilized. In a pediatric patient the head comprises a much larger portion of the BSA than with an adult. In accordance with the Lund-Browder Chart:
- The head of a pediatric patient = 18%
- Each arm = 9%
- The front torso = 18%
- The back torso = 18%
- Each leg = 14%
Due to the increased surface area of the head, the pediatric patient's legs comprise a smaller portion of the BSA. Once the total volume of fluid is decided on, half of the volume is administered in the first eight hours post-burn and the remaining volume is administered over 16 hours. It is important to note that calculated volumes from this formula and many others is merely an estimate and may require adjustments in the amount of fluid being given based on the patient's response.
Parkland's Formula:
| Fluid Requirements = TBSA burned (%) x Weight (kg) x | 4 mL (RL) 1 kg |
Administer ½ of fluid requirements in 1st 8 hours, then administer the 2nd half of fluid requirements over the next 16 hours.