The Parkland formula expresses the initial fluid resuscitation volume for burns as which expression?

• A. 2 mL x BSA x Kg
• B. 6 mL x BSA x Kg
• C. 4 mL x BSA x Kg
• D. 8 mL x BSA x Kg

Answer: (C)

The expression tested is the Parkland formula for initial burn resuscitation. It uses 4 mL per kilogram of body weight times the percentage of TBSA burned to estimate the total fluid needed in the first 24 hours. So the correct expression is 4 mL × body weight (kg) × %TBSA burned. Half of that volume is given in the first 8 hours after the burn, and the remaining half over the next 16 hours. The fluid is typically Lactated Ringer's solution. If the question shows BSA, think of it as %TBSA. For example, a 70 kg person with 40% burns would require 4 × 70 × 40 = 11,200 mL in the first 24 hours (5,600 mL in the first 8 hours, and 5,600 mL in the next 16 hours). Other numbers reflect different resuscitation formulas, not Parkland.