Smoke inhalation

Smoke inhalation
A patient being treated for smoke inhalation in an ambulance by the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Jabaliya
Specialty	Emergency medicine, pulmonology, critical care

Smoke inhalation is the breathing in of harmful fumes (produced as by-products of combusting substances) through the respiratory tract.^[1] This can cause smoke inhalation injury (subtype of acute inhalation injury) which is damage to the respiratory tract caused by chemical and/or heat exposure, as well as possible systemic toxicity after smoke inhalation.^[2][3][4] Smoke inhalation can occur from fires of various sources such as residential, vehicle, and wildfires. Morbidity and mortality rates in fire victims with burns are increased in those with smoke inhalation injury.^[3][4] Victims of smoke inhalation injury can present with cough, difficulty breathing, low oxygen saturation, smoke debris and/or burns on the face.^[2][5] Smoke inhalation injury can affect the upper respiratory tract (above the larynx), usually due to heat exposure, or the lower respiratory tract (below the larynx), usually due to exposure to toxic fumes.^[2][4][6][5] Initial treatment includes taking the victim away from the fire and smoke, giving 100% oxygen at a high flow through a face mask (non-rebreather if available), and checking the victim for injuries to the body.^[5][6] Treatment for smoke inhalation injury is largely supportive, with varying degrees of consensus on benefits of specific treatments.^[3]