Airway and Pulmonary

Burn patients present unique airway challenges from progressive edema, direct thermal injury, and anatomic distortion. Early intubation when clinical signs of upper airway involvement are present is t

ARDS in burn patients involves unique respiratory pathophysiology from direct airway injury, chest wall restriction, systemic inflammation, and massive fluid resuscitation. Lung-protective ventilation

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is the current standard for diagnosing and grading inhalation injury, though its predictive value for outcomes remains debated. Grading systems including the Abbreviated Injury

Carbon monoxide poisoning is the most common cause of death in fire-related inhalation injury. CO binds hemoglobin with 200-250 times the affinity of oxygen, impairing oxygen delivery and causing cell

Hydrogen cyanide is produced by combustion of nitrogen-containing synthetic materials and is an underrecognized contributor to fire-related morbidity and mortality. Cyanide inhibits cytochrome oxidase

Inhalation injury is an independent predictor of burn mortality comprising supraglottic, subglottic, and systemic components. Early airway assessment, bronchoscopic grading, multimodal nebulized thera

Mechanical ventilation in burn patients must balance lung-protective principles with the unique demands of inhalation injury, massive fluid resuscitation, and hypermetabolic physiology. Low tidal volu

Tracheostomy is frequently required in burn patients with prolonged ventilatory needs due to inhalation injury, large TBSA burns, and repeated operative procedures. Emerging multi-database evidence su