What is the primary cause of burn shock?

The primary cause of burn shock is fluid loss. In severe burns, extensive damage to the skin leads to a significant loss of fluids and proteins, which can result in hypovolemia. This loss compromises the body's ability to maintain adequate blood volume and tissue perfusion, triggering the physiological response known as burn shock.

Burn shock encompasses both a state of hypovolemic shock due to fluid loss and the subsequent inflammatory processes that occur after a burn injury. When fluid is lost through damaged skin, it can lead to a decrease in circulating blood volume, which places a strain on the cardiovascular system. The heart attempts to compensate for this by increasing heart rate and contractility, but without adequate fluid resuscitation, these compensatory mechanisms can falter, leading to cardiovascular collapse.

Thus, while cardiovascular failure can indeed result from the sequelae of burn shock, it is primarily the significant fluid loss that initiates the series of events leading to shock in burn victims.