Parkland Burn Formula Calculator

What is The Fluid Resuscitation Protocol & The Parkland Formula?

Severe burns trigger rapid, massive fluid shifts resulting in systemic hypovolemic shock. Administering Ringer's lactate IV fluid is critical to prevent circulatory collapse. The Parkland Formula calculates the precise 24-hour baseline.

Mathematical Foundation

Parkland 24-Hour Resuscitation Equation

V = 4\text{ mL} \times W_{\text{kg}} \times \text{TBSA}_{\%}

V

= Total 24-hour IV fluid requirement (mL of Ringer's Lactate)

W_{\text{kg}}

= Patient body mass (kg)

\text{TBSA}_{\%}

= Total Body Surface Area of second- and third-degree burns (%)

Phase 1 Infusion Rate (First 8 Hours)

R_1 = \frac{0.50 \times V}{8 - T_{\text{elapsed}}}

R_1

= Phase 1 hourly infusion rate (mL/hr)

T_{\text{elapsed}}

= Hours elapsed since the time of injury

Phase 2 Infusion Rate (Trailing 16 Hours)

R_2 = \frac{0.50 \times V}{16}

R_2

= Phase 2 hourly infusion rate (mL/hr)

Laws & Principles

Rule of Nines Exclusions: Only partial-thickness (2nd degree) and full-thickness (3rd degree) burns count toward TBSA. Superficial erythema (1st degree sunburn) is strictly excluded.
Time Zero Begins at Injury: The 8-hour clock starts from the moment the burn occurred, not from emergency department or ICU arrival.
Crystalloid of Choice: Balanced crystalloids such as Ringer's Lactate (Hartmann's solution) are preferred to avoid hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis caused by large volumes of 0.9% Normal Saline.
Urine Output Titration: Fluid rate must be dynamically titrated to maintain target urine output: 0.5 to 1.0 mL/kg/hr in adults (30–50 mL/hr) and 1.0 to 1.5 mL/kg/hr in pediatric patients.

Step-by-Step Example Walkthrough

" A 75 kg adult arrives with 20% TBSA burns. The burn occurred exactly 1 hour prior to arrival. "

1. Calculate Total 24-hour Volume: 4 mL * 75 kg * 20% = 6,000 mL Ringer's Lactate.
2. Allocate Phase 1 Volume (First 8 Hours): 6,000 mL / 2 = 3,000 mL.
3. Adjust for 1 hour elapsed time: Remaining Phase 1 window is 7 hours.
4. Calculate Phase 1 Infusion Rate: 3,000 mL / 7 hours = 428.6 mL/hr.
5. Calculate Phase 2 Infusion Rate (Next 16 Hours): 3,000 mL / 16 hours = 187.5 mL/hr.

Final Result: Infuse Ringer's Lactate at ~429 mL/hr for the next 7 hours, then adjust to 188 mL/hr for the remaining 16 hours, titrating to urine output.

Clinical Summary: Why Fluid Timing Matters in Burn Trauma

Massive capillary leak and third-spacing peak within the first 8 hours following thermal trauma. Delivering half the 24-hour requirement within this initial 8-hour window restores intravascular volume, preserves renal perfusion, and prevents burn shock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of burns count toward the Total Body Surface Area (TBSA)?

Only partial-thickness (second-degree) and full-thickness (third-degree) burns are included in the TBSA calculation. Superficial (first-degree) burns, such as simple sunburns without blistering, do not cause systemic fluid loss and must not be counted.

Why does the 8-hour period start from the time of injury rather than hospital admission?

Physiological microvascular leakage and plasma extravasation begin instantaneously when tissue is burned. If 2 hours elapsed during transport, the patient must receive their entire Phase 1 volume over the remaining 6 hours to prevent profound hypovolemia.

How is fluid resuscitation monitored and adjusted?

The Parkland formula provides only an initial estimate. Clinicians continuously titrate the IV rate based on hourly urine output (targeting 0.5–1.0 mL/kg/hr in adults), mean arterial pressure, and lactate clearance to prevent both under-resuscitation and fluid creep (abdominal compartment syndrome).

Parkland Burn Formula

Total 24-Hour Fluid Volume