ABSTRACT
Objective To review the experience in the management of burned patients inflicted by inhalation injury in our institute in the past 42 years. Methods Patients with inhalation injury were analyzed chronically in three different periods as 1958 to 1980, 1981 to 1990, and 1991 to 2000. Results The mortality rates in general and in terms of different degrees decreased obviously with the elapse of time. In other words, the rates were 48.93%, 26.60% and 8.53 for the above three periods. Conclusion The mortality of inhalation injury was decreased dramatically during the last decade in our institute. Five main measures consisting of inhalation of high concentration or pure oxygen, preventive tracheotomy, frequent tracheal lavage with small amount of lavage fluid at early stage of postburn, mechanical ventilation with PEEP and humidification as early as possible, and application of exogenous pulmonary surfactant contribute greatly to the decrement of death rate in the patients with inhalation injury.
ABSTRACT
Objective To review the experience in the management of burned patients inflicted by inhalation injury in our institute in the past 42 years. Methods Patients with inhalation injury were analyzed chronically in three different periods as 1958 to 1980, 1981 to 1990, and 1991 to 2000. Results The mortality rates in general and in terms of different degrees decreased obviously with the elapse of time. In other words, the rates were 48.93%, 26.60% and 8.53 for the above three periods. Conclusion The mortality of inhalation injury was decreased dramatically during the last decade in our institute. Five main measures consisting of inhalation of high concentration or pure oxygen, preventive tracheotomy, frequent tracheal lavage with small amount of lavage fluid at early stage of postburn, mechanical ventilation with PEEP and humidification as early as possible, and application of exogenous pulmonary surfactant contribute greatly to the decrement of death rate in the patients with inhalation injury.