Assessment of Smoke or Heat Inhalation Injury

Assessment of Smoke or Heat Inhalation Injury Assessment of Smoke or Heat Inhalation Injury

Before determining the extent and degree of the burn, assess the patient for the presence of inhalation injury.
Assume an inhalation injury if the burn occurred in an enclosed space, or if there is evidence of facial burns.
Baseline assessment of respiratory status should include CXR and ABG's if possible.
Patients may also exhibit:

Early Symptoms

sore throat
singing of nasal hairs/eyebrows/eyelashes
hoarseness
soot-tinged sputum

Late Symptoms

shortness of breath
stridor
indrawing

Next Page Previous Page Burn Info E-mail

This sight is maintained by the B.C. Burn Network Society. We welcome contributions and comments from interested parties.

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical - without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.