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Review
. 2017 Jul;44(3):505-511.
doi: 10.1016/j.cps.2017.02.009. Epub 2017 Apr 18.

Inhalation Injury: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Samuel W Jones  1 , Felicia N Williams  2 , Bruce A Cairns  2 , Robert Cartotto  3
Affiliations
Review

Inhalation Injury: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Samuel W Jones et al. Clin Plast Surg. 2017 Jul.

Abstract

The classic determinants of mortality from severe burn injury are age, size of injury, delays of resuscitation, and the presence of inhalation injury. Of the major determinants of mortality, inhalation injury remains one of the most challenging injuries for burn care providers. Patients with inhalation injury are at increased risk for pneumonia (the leading cause of death) and multisystem organ failure. There is no consensus among leading burn care centers in the management of inhalation injury. This article outlines the current treatment algorithms and the evidence of their efficacy.

Keywords: Bronchodilators; Heparin; Inhalation injury; Pneumonia; Respiratory failure.

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