Objective: To summarize our clinical experiences in the treatment of severe inhalation injury accompanying extensive burn.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of 30 cases of inhalation injury (1980-1996) was done, the cure rate, mortality, effective treatments and lessons of failure were summarized.
Results: As soon as the diagnosis was defined, tracheostomy should be done immediately, followed by oxygen therapy, tracheo-bronchial lavage, aspiration, and clearance of airway secretion. If there was pulmonary edema or severe bronchospasm, cortical hormone was used for a short time, in addition, the patients were encouraged to cough, breathe deeply, and change postures, as well as patted on the back and also positioned to facilitate posture drainage, etc. These measures were effective. In this series, there were thirty cases of severe inhalation injury. Fourteen patients(46.6%) were cured, sixteen patients died(53.3%). The result was basically satisfactory.
Conclusion: It is possible to increase the cure rate of severe inhalation injury, and the treatment should be carried out conscientiously as early as possible, and great attention should be paid to prevent various complications.