Inhalation smoke is the leading cause of death for fire victims. Inhaling or exposing hot gas products from combustion may cause serious respiratory complications.
About 50-80% of deaths from fire are the result of an inhalation injury of smoke, including burns to the respiratory system. Hot smoke wounds or kills with a combination of thermal damage, poisoning and lung irritation and swelling, caused by carbon monoxide, cyanide and other combustion products.
Video Smoke inhalation
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms range from coughing and vomiting to nausea, drowsiness and confusion. Burns to the nose, mouth and face, scorched nose hair, difficulty breathing, and carbon sputum (salivary saliva) are signs of inhalation of the smoke injury. Approximately one-third of patients treated in the burn unit suffered lung injury by inhaling the hot smoke. The mortality rate of patients with severe burns and smoke inhalation may be more than 50%.
Any person with clear signs of smoke inhalation should be immediately evaluated by a medical professional such as a paramedic or a doctor. Advanced medical care may be necessary to save the patient's life, including mechanical ventilation, even if the person is aware and alert. Waiting for continued intervention, the patient should be taken to fresh air and given medical oxygen if available.
Maps Smoke inhalation
Treatment
Treatment consists of moistened oxygen, bronchodilators, suction, endotracheal and chest physiotherapy. There is no role for the regular treatment of smoke inhalation with antibiotics or steroids. Treatment depends on the severity of the inhaled smoke.
Nebulized heparin and acetylcysteine ​​â € <â € <
Inhalation therapy with nebulized heparin and acetylcysteine ​​is usually started and continued for five to seven days during hospital stay.
Oxygen therapy
Carbon monoxide (CO) is considered a complication of smoke inhalation. The initial approach to suspected CO poisoning involves supplemental oxygen delivery at a fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) of 100 percent and then the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) evaluated by the physician.
See also
- Acute inhalation injury
References
External links
- Smoke Smoke in eDoctor.co.in
- Emedicine's Health
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments