Respiratory issues in thermally injured patients

摘要

Respiratory issues are one of the most frequent reasons critical care physicians become involved in the treatment of patients suffering thermal injury. Such patients are subject to asphyxiation, toxic gas exposure, airway swelling, pneumonia, atelectasis, and the acute respiratory distress syndrome. These complications impact on patient mortality. This review focuses on current opinion in regard to these issues, with a particular focus on the timing, diagnosis, and therapy for inhalational injury, pneumonia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.