Inhalational Injury: A Brief Review of Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment

Lung injury resulting from inhaled toxins continues to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Inhalation injury, when combined with epidermal burns, increases fluid resuscitation requirements. While cutaneous burns can be excised and grafted, pulmonary mucosa must be protected from secondary injury caused by mechanical ventilation, resuscitation, and infections to allow for host repair mechanisms. Many of the consequences of smoke inhalation result from activation of an inflammatory response with immune mediators which are not completely understood. Morbidity from smoke inhalation results from thermal injury and inhaled toxins.