title: Mass ammonia inhalational burns--experience in the management of 12 patients.
abstract: Twelve Korean crew members of a deep sea fishing vessel were admitted to the Burns Centre, Singapore General Hospital following exposure to ammonia gas. The injuries sustained were primarily respiratory burns with minor cutaneous and corneal burns. They were divided into three grades of severity based on the admission findings and subsequent clinical course. Management was according to a standard respiratory burns protocol. Eight patients were intubated. Ten of the patients with mild and moderate involvement of the respiratory tract recovered without complication. Of the two patients with severe respiratory burns, one died while another progressed to chronic debilitating airway disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Foo
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000641:Ammonia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002059:Burns, Inhalation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005107:Explosions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000641:Ammonia