Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Florida State Paramedic Exam with interactive quizzes and detailed explanations. Test your medical knowledge and boost your confidence. Ace your exam with proven study materials!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

In a patient with burn injuries, what causes hypovolemia?

Blood loss due to injury
Fluid movement into interstitial tissue
Increased capillary permeability
Reduced cardiac output

The correct answer is: Fluid movement into interstitial tissue

In a patient suffering from burn injuries, hypovolemia, or a decrease in blood volume, primarily results from fluid movement into the interstitial tissues. When the skin is damaged by burns, the normal barrier function is compromised, leading to increased permeability of the capillaries in the affected area. This allows fluids, proteins, and other substances that are typically contained within the blood vessels to escape into the surrounding tissues. As a consequence, this translocation of fluid into the interstitial space leads to edema and a reduction in the amount of circulating blood volume, contributing significantly to hypovolemia. This situation can ultimately exacerbate complications such as shock if not adequately managed. Understanding this mechanism is crucial for effective treatment, as it emphasizes the importance of fluid resuscitation in burn patients to restore volume and prevent further complications.