Inhalational Injuries/ Day 3

with Peter Lutz (MD)

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Today we watched a video from Peter Lutz about the different inhalational injuries that can occur when their are chemical burns. There are two parts to the air way: Upper air way injuries and Lower air way injures. Upper air way injuries can be direct heat injuries and chemical injures. Lower air way injuries can be chemical injuries.

Their are toxic inhalants effects which include: Asphyxiants, Carbon Monoxide, Cyanide, Edema (Swelling), Surfactant Loss, Airway spasm, SLoughing of Tissues, and Systemic Toxins.

Warning signs of the injuries will include such as facial burns, signed nose hairs, soot in the mouth or nose, black sputum, wheezing, burns around the neck, mouth edema, severe facial burns, breathing problems, and confusion. These are very serious things. In general if you have any of these it isn't normal but you should most defintly run to the hospital or doctor. Some of the long term treatments can cause permanent injury or scarring, result in long term ventilator need, and permanent asthma like symptoms. This can be very very serious and we should keep in caution so things like this won't happen.