Complications of Inhalation Injuries

Attorney David Szerlag recently recovered 2.4 million dollars in a boiler explosion case. Attorney Fred Pritzker recently recovered 2.9 million dollars in an apartment fire case. To contact an at our law firm about inhalation injuries from a fire, explosion or work-related incident, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our online form for a free consultation.

Short Term Complications of Inhalation Injuries

The most common short-term complications of inhalation injuries are those caused by microbial infection. Of the types of infection that can result from inhalation injury, the most common is pneumonia, with infection rates of up to 40% in those with inhalation injury.

It can be quite difficult to diagnose pulmonary infections due to the similarity of symptoms between infections and symptoms of the inhalation injuries. The key to diagnosing an infection is by observing an unexpected worsening or changing of symptoms. Gram stains can also be used to test for bacteria that cause pneumonia or tracheobronchitis.

The treatment of infection resulting from inhalation injury is accomplished with antibiotics specific to the pathogen determined by the gram stain. Preventative use of antibiotics has not been shown to be effective, but merely allow a more rapid development of antibiotic resistant strains (Klastersky et al).

Endotracheal intubation is necessary in about 80% of those with inhalation injuries because of respiratory difficulties. However, long-term intubation (over 3 weeks) can greatly increase the risk of pulmonary infection. Bacteria can colonize the plastic tubing and then cause infection. Long-term intubation is also believed to exacerbate laryngeal damage by occasionally causing ulcers or adhering to the tissue.

Long Term Complications of Inhalation Injuries

Polyps can be formed when there is excessive granulation (fibrous connective tissue that forms after the fibrin clot) during the healing process. Polyps typically heal within 6 months after injury; this process can be sped up through the use of corticosteroids.

However, in severe cases where polyps form in small airways, they can lead to a syndrome similar to bronchiolitis obliterans. This leads to scaring and inflammation and can decrease lung function to around 20%; this can in turn cause respiratory failure and death.

A rare long-term side complication of inhalation injury is reactive airway dysfunction. Reactive airway dysfunction is a form of asthma that is irritant-induced. It typically develops in patients or is present in those who had pre-existing irritant exposure, such as smokers.

Causes of Inhalation Injury

For information regarding specific causes of inhalation injury, see the following pages:

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To contact an attorney at PritzkerOlsen, P.A. about compensation for your inhalation injuries, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free), e-mail our lawyers or submit our free case consultation form.

Sources:
1. Carrougher, Gretchern J. (1998). Burn Care and Therapy. St. Louis: Mosby Inc.
2. Klastersky J, Bogaerts AM, Noteman J et al: Infections cause by Providencia bacilli, Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 6:153-158, 1974.

Keywords: Inhalation injuries, pneumonia, reactive airway dysfunction, respiratory failure, wrongful death.

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