What is the Parkland formula for fluid resuscitation in burn patients?

• A. 4mL x kg x TBSA; the first half is given over 8 hours from the time of injury
• B. 2mL x kg x TBSA; quarter in 6 hours
• C. 6mL x kg x TBSA; full in 24 hours
• D. 5mL x kg x TBSA; half in 12 hours

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how to estimate initial fluid needs after a burn and when to give most of that fluid. The Parkland formulation says you give 4 mL of crystalloid per kilogram of body weight for each percent of body surface area burned, using Lactated Ringer’s solution. The total over 24 hours is this amount, but you administer half of it in the first 8 hours from the time of injury, and the remaining half over the next 16 hours. This timing is important because it emphasizes rapid early resuscitation to support perfusion.

For example, a 70 kg person with 40% TBSA burns would receive 4 × 70 × 40 = 11,200 mL in 24 hours, with 5,600 mL given in the first 8 hours and 5,600 mL in the following 16 hours. If the patient presents later, you still aim to complete the first 8-hour window within 8 hours of injury, adjusting the rate accordingly.

The other options differ in the multiplier or in when the fluid is given, so they don’t align with this standard approach.