[Inhalation injury--epidemiology, diagnosis and therapy].
OBJECTIVE
Inhalation injury is a vitally threatening medical syndrome, which might appear in patients with or without burn injuries. Thus, knowledge about development, diagnosis and treatment of inhalation injury should be available for each physician working in an intensive care unit.


METHODS
This review starts with the causal and formal pathogenesis of inhalation injuries. Furthermore, diagnosis and treatment in the critical care setting are presented, followed by the discussion of possible complications. Specific intoxications such as carbon monoxide are due to their importance separately discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Inhalation injury present with an attributable excess mortality and thus worsen the prognosis of burned patients. New insights into the pathogenesis of inhalation injury, however, have led to improved therapeutic possibilities with improved outcome. Necessary prerequisites are a timely diagnosis and restrictive volume management, especially in patients with extensive burns. Prospective studies are needed to be able to answer the many emerging questions.
Thaler
Ulrich
U
Universitätsklinik für Anästhesie, Allgemeine Intensivmedizin und Schmerztherapie, Medizinische Universität Wien, Wien, Austria.
Kraincuk
Paul
P
Kamolz
Lars-Peter
LP
Frey
Manfred
M
Metnitz
Philipp G H
PG
D002059:Burns, Inhalation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005739:Gas Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence