OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of stroke volume variations to monitor the early fluid resuscitation in mechanically ventilated burn ICU patients.METHODS AND RESULTS: Data of 29 burn patients (APACHE II - 9.8±3.6, SAPS II - 29±5, TBSA - 39.5±14) were prospectively included in this observational study. Hemodynamic parameters were determined using arterial pressure wave analysis for up to 36h after burn. Statistically significant changes in cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), stroke volume variation (SVV) were recorded during the observation period. There were significant correlations between CI and SVV (r=-0.454, p=0.03), SVV and SVRI (r=0.482, p=0.02) at 16 h postburn; CI and SVV (r=-0.513, p=0.012), SVV and SVRI (r=0.480, p=0.02) at 24 h postburn, CI and SVV at 36 h postburn (r=-0.478, p=0.021). Significant changes in CI (1.9±1 vs. 3.4±0.9), p=0.02 and in SVV (24.9±3 vs. 14.6±2, p=0.01) were observed in patients with low cardiac output state after administration of 10 ml/kg of Ringer lactate.CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that measurement of stroke volume variations by arterial pulse contour analysis is valuable in monitoring volume administration and in predicting volume responsiveness during the early postburn period.