Inhalation injury refers to three separate injuries that occur when a patient is exposed to a fire in an enclosed space and inhales hot air and chemicals and incomplete products of combustion. The three injuries include supraglottic thermal injury which is caused by the direct thermal damage to the upper airway and can result in swelling, mucosal sloughing, and bronchospasm. The second type of injury is lower respiratory tract injury resulting from inhalation of chemicals and incomplete products of combustion that causes intense inflammatory responses and can lead to bronchospasm, vasospasm, bronchorrhea, and bronchial exudate and cast formation resulting in endoluminal obstruction. The final injury type is systemic poisoning including carbon monoxide poisoning and cyanide poisoning.

Pediatric Burn Inhalation guideline team

Ryan Stark, MD - Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Anne L. Wagner, MD, FACS - Burn Director
Elizabeth D. Slater, MD - Medical Director, Pediatric Burn Care
Paul E. Moore, MD - Director, Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Pulmonary Medicine
Samuel McKenna, MD, DDS - Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Table

Clinical Practice Guidelines: Pediatric Burn Inhalation Injury

CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES (FULL LIST)

Pediatric Burn Inhalation Injury CPG

Pediatric Burn Inhalation Injury Protocol