INHALATION INJURY

Course overview

INHALATION INJURY IS A BROAD TERM THAT INCLUDES PULMONARY EXPOSURE TO A WIDE RANGE OF CHEMICALS IN VARIOUS FORMS INCLUDING SMOKE, GASES, VAPORS, OR FUMES. INHALATION INJURY FROM SMOKE EXPOSURE IS COMMONLY SEEN IN PATIENTS EXPOSED TO FIRES. SMOKE INHALATION IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMONLY ENCOUNTERED INHALATION INJURIES AND IS THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THIS INFORMATION. INFORMATION RELATING TO EXTERNAL THERMAL BURNS AND CAUSTIC INGESTIONS WILL NOT BE DISCUSSED. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PRESENTATION OF INHALATION INJURY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.