After 24 hours of burn resuscitation, which finding would not be expected in a well-resuscitated patient?

• A. Bradycardia 50-60 bpm
• B. Adequate urine output
• C. Normal mental status
• D. Stable blood pressure

Answer: (A)

In a well-resuscitated burn patient after 24 hours, perfusion and organ function should be stable. The body’s stress response to burns tends to keep heart rate elevated early on, and as resuscitation succeeds, heart rate should normalize rather than drop into a slow rhythm. A bradycardic rate of 50–60 beats per minute would therefore be unexpected in this context, unless there’s another specific cause. What you would expect are signs of good perfusion and stability: adequate urine output indicates the kidneys are receiving enough blood flow, normal mental status reflects sufficient cerebral perfusion and oxygenation, and stable blood pressure shows that intravascular volume and vascular tone are good. So bradycardia is the finding that would not be expected.