Which condition involves plasma and plasma protein leakage from damaged capillaries, such as after severe burns?

• A. Tension Pneumothorax
• B. Anaphylactic Shock
• C. Burn Shock
• D. Neurogenic Shock

Answer: (C)

Severe burns trigger capillary damage and inflammation that make capillaries leaky, allowing plasma and plasma proteins to escape into the surrounding interstitial space. This loss of intravascular fluid reduces circulating blood volume and oncotic support, leading to hypovolemia and edema—together described as burn shock. The key idea is that the shock stems from direct tissue injury causing fluid and protein leakage into the tissues, not from airway obstruction, allergic reaction, or loss of sympathetic tone.

Tension pneumothorax involves air accumulating in the pleural space, compressing the lungs and great vessels, which is a mechanical problem rather than a plasma-leak scenario. Anaphylactic shock is driven by immune-mediated vasodilation and increased permeability due to a systemic allergic reaction, not primarily by burn-induced capillary damage. Neurogenic shock results from loss of sympathetic tone causing widespread vasodilation, again not due to capillary leakage from burned tissue.