Discuss the possible damage with short term and long term complications of a fir

Question

Discuss the possible damage with short term and long term complications of a firefighter inhaling heated air and in respiratory distress. Prioritize the necessary interventions to stabilize the patient, then discuss an in depth plan of care for recovery. Discuss the possible damage with short term and long term complications of a firefighter inhaling heated air and in respiratory distress. Prioritize the necessary interventions to stabilize the patient, then discuss an in depth plan of care for recovery.

Explanation / Answer

Smoke inhalation is the leading cause of death due to fires. It produces injury through several mechanisms, including thermal injury to the upper airway, irritation or chemical injury to the airways from soot, asphyxiation, and toxicity from carbon monoxide (CO) and other gases such as cyanide.

Management-

A patient who has suffered smoke inhalation should be assumed to have CO poisoning and be treated accordingly. High flow 100% O2 significantly reduces the half life of CO in the blood. CO poisoning is responsible for most of the deaths which occur before reaching hospital. If it causes cardiac arrest, the chance of resuscitation is extremely poor. A systematic review highlighted that further research is needed about the mode of delivery of hyperbaric oxygen and mooted the possibility of portable devices, especially in mild cases.

Inhalation injury is not always associated with an increased requirement for fluids unless other burns injuries are present. There is a danger that over-replacement of fluid can increase the risk of pulmonary oedema. Fluid resuscitation should be guided by urine output and hemodynamic parameters of the individual patient.

When a patient presents with smoke inhalation, immediate assessment of the patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation should be done.Some patients manifest bronchospasm and may benefit from the use of bronchodilators. When upper airway injury is suspected.

Mechanical ventilation may be necessary in patients with declining lung function, oxygenation levels, and ventilation. It is given as follows:

Positive pressure ventilation with low tidal volumes (3-5 mL/kg)

Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), with plateau pressures below 30 cm water

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse D
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.