ABSTRACT
Superheated air, products of combustion, hot liquid, or steam cause serious injury to the delicate tissues of the upper airway and lung. Clinical consequences include upper airway edema, bronchospasm, small airway occlusion, loss of ciliary clearance, increased dead space, intrapulmonary shunting, decreased lung and chest wall compliance, tracheobronchhitis, and pneumonia. Unfortunately, the degree to which these complications will develop is impossible to predict in individual patients. Even more problematic is that there are no specific therapies for inhalation injury. Our job is simply to provide general supportive care through observation and good pulmonary toilet, while managing complications if and when they arise.
