title: Environmental insults: smoke inhalation, submersion, diving, and high altitude.
abstract: In the expanding search for recreation, we spend more and more of our time in various environments. Whether the air is thin or compressed or smoke-filled or there is no air at all, emergency physicians continue to meet and treat the various pulmonary emergencies that the environment may create. The authors present the background, diagnosis, and management of a few of the more common pulmonary emergencies that the environment may produce.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine. 419 West Redwood Street, Suite 280, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. dkuo@umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Dick C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jerrard
mesh_terms: D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001469:Barotrauma / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D004242:Diving / Q000293:injuries*; D004332:Drowning / Q000503:physiopathology; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055370:Lung Injury; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D015208:Smoke Inhalation Injury / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy