Smoke Inhalation Research Paper

Smoke Inhalation Causes
Smoke inhalation damages the body by simple asphyxiation (lack of oxygen), chemical irritation, chemical asphyxiation, or a combination of these. * Simple asphyxiates * Combustion can simply use up the oxygen near the fire and lead to death when there is no oxygen for a person to breathe. * Smoke itself can contain products that do not cause direct harm to a person, but they take up the space that is needed for oxygen. Carbon dioxide acts in this way. * * Irritant compounds * Combustion can result in the formation of chemicals that cause direct injury when they contact the skin and mucous membranes. * These substances disrupt the normal lining of the respiratory tract. This
* Carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and hydrogen sulfide are all examples of chemicals produced in fires that interfere with the use of oxygen by the cell during the production of energy. * If either the delivery of oxygen or the use of oxygen is inhibited, cells will die. * Carbon monoxide poisoning has been found to be the leading cause of death in smoke inhalation.

Smoke Inhalation Symptoms
Numerous signs and symptoms of smoke inhalation may develop. Symptoms may include cough, shortness of breath, hoarseness, headache, and acute mental status changes.
Signs such as soot in the airway passages or changes in skin color may be useful in determining the degree of injury.
* Cough o When the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract get irritated, they secrete more mucus. o Bronchospasm and increased mucus production lead to reflex coughing. o The mucus may be either clear or black depending on the degree of burned particles deposited in the lungs and trachea. * Shortness of
* If the patient has signs and symptoms of upper airway problems (hoarseness), they will most likely be intubated. The doctor places a tube down the throat to keep the airway from closing due to swelling. * If the patient has respiratory distress or mental status changes, they may also be intubated to let the staff help with breathing, to suction off mucus, and keep the patient from choking on secretions. * * Bronchoscopy * Bronchoscopy is procedure performed through a small scope to directly look at the degree of damage done to the airways and to allow for suctioning of secretions and debris. * Usually bronchoscopy is done through an endotracheal tube after the patient receives adequate sedation and pain relievers. * Bronchoscopy may be necessary if the patient has growing respiratory failure, fails to demonstrate clinical improvement, or a segment of the lung remains collapsed. * * Hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) * If the patient has carbon monoxide poisoning, hyperbaric oxygenation may be considered. * Hyperbaric oxygenation is a treatment in which the patient is given oxygen in a compression