Delayed Tracheoesophageal Fistula and Refractory Respiratory Failure Caused by Inhalation Burns and Emergency Venovenous ECMO to Facilitate Its Management: A Case Report.

Acquired tracheoesophageal fistulae are uncommon in burn patients but can occur as a complication of inhalation injury. We report a case of a 30-yr-old male patient presenting after suffering from inhalation and 25% total body surface area burns. On postburns day 14, he developed a massive tracheoesophageal fistula causing refractory acute respiratory failure. Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane (VV ECMO) oxygenation was initiated without systemic anticoagulation via bi-femoral cannulation under transthoracic echocardiography guidance. He underwent successful 5-hr apnoeic ventilation-assisted surgical repair of the fistula via a right posterolateral thoracotomy. ECMO was discontinued after 36 hr, and he was discharged to the ward after 33 d in the intensive care unit. Inhalation burn injury can cause a delayed life-threatening tracheoesophageal fistula. Surgical repair can be successfully performed for this condition. VV- ECMO can be used to facilitate prolonged apnoeic surgery and to manage refractory respiratory failure due to this condition.

Impact of inhalation injury on outcomes in critically ill burns patients: 12-year experience at a regional burns centre.

INTRODUCTION: Burns inhalation injury increases the attributable mortality of burns related trauma. However, diagnostic uncertainties around bronchoscopically graded severity, and its effect on outcomes, remain. This study evaluated the impact of different bronchoscopic burns inhalation injury grades on outcomes. METHODS: A single-centre cohort study of all patients admitted to the London Burns centre intensive care unit (BICU) over 12 years. Demographic data, burn and burns inhalation injury characteristics, and ICU-related parameters were collected retrospectively. The primary outcome was mortality. Secondary outcomes were hospital and ICU lengths of stay. The impact of pneumonia was determined. Univariate and multivariable Cox's proportional hazards regression analyses informed factors predicting mortality. RESULTS: Burns inhalation injury was diagnosed in 84 of 231 (36%) critically ill burns patients; 20 mild (grade 1), 41 severe (grades 2/3) and 23 unclassified bronchoscopically. Median (IQR) total body surface area burned (TBSA) was 20% (10-40). Mortality was significantly higher in patients with burns inhalation injury vs those without burns inhalation injury (38/84 [45%] vs 35/147 [24%], p < 0.001). Patients with pneumonia had a higher mortality than those without (34/125 [27%] vs 8/71 [11%], p = 0.009). In multivariable analysis, severe burns inhalation injury significantly increased mortality (adjusted HR=2.14, 95%CI: 1.12-4.09, p = 0.022), compared with mild injury (adjusted HR=0.58, 95% CI: 0.18-1.86, p = 0.363). Facial burns (adjusted HR=3.13, 95%CI: 1.69-5.79, p < 0.001), higher TBSA (adjusted HR=1.05, 95%CI: 1.04-1.06, p < 0.001) and older age (adjusted HR=1.04, 95%CI: 1.02-1.07, p < 0.001) also independently predicted mortality, though pneumonia did not. CONCLUSIONS: Severe burns inhalation injury is a significant risk factor for mortality in critically ill burns patients. However, pneumonia did not increase mortality from burns inhalation injury. This work confirms prior implications of bronchoscopically graded burns inhalation injury. Further study is suggested, through registries, into the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of bronchoscopy in burns related lung injury.

Laryngotracheal Reconstruction in the Pediatric Burn Patient: Surgical Techniques and Decision Making.

The management of laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) in the pediatric burn patient is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach. The mainstay of treatment for LTS is laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR), however, limited reports of burn-specific LTR techniques exist. Here, we provide insight into the initial airway evaluation, surgical decision making, anesthetic challenges, and incision modifications based on our experience in treating patients with this pathology. The initial airway evaluation can be complicated by microstomia, trismus, and neck contractures-the authors recommend treatment of these complications prior to initial airway evaluation to optimize safety. The surgical decision making regarding pursuing single-stage LTR, double-stage LTR, and 1.5-stage LTR can be challenging-the authors recommend 1.5-stage LTR when possible due to the extra safety of rescue tracheostomy and the decreased risk of granuloma, which is especially important in pro-inflammatory burn physiology. Anesthetic challenges include obtaining intravenous access, securing the airway, and intravenous induction-the authors recommend peripherally inserted central catheter when appropriate, utilizing information from the initial airway evaluation to secure the airway, and avoidance of succinylcholine upon induction. Neck and chest incisions are often within the TBSA covered by the burn injury-the authors recommend modifying typical incisions to cover unaffected skin whenever possible in order to limit infection and prevent wound healing complications. Pediatric LTR in the burn patient is challenging, but can be safe when the surgeon is thoughtful in their decision making.

"Awake" Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Combined With Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy For the Treatment of Severe Chemical Gas Inhalation Lung Injury.

Lung injury caused by chemical gas inhalation is a common clinically severe disease that very easily progresses to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Traditional respiratory support consists mainly of mechanical ventilation, but the prognosis of this condition is still poor. "Awake" extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) maintains oxygenation, improves ventilation, adequately allows the injured lungs to rest, and avoids complications associated with sedation, intubation, and mechanical ventilation. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) can provide better fluid management and reduce pulmonary edema. Herein, we describe the case of a patient with severe chemical gas inhalation lung injury who failed to respond to traditional mechanical ventilation and was subsequently treated with awake ECMO combined with CRRT.

Principais complicações respiratórias no adulto queimado internado em um hospital de referência do estado de Minas Gerais / Main respiratory complications in burned adult in a reference hospital of Minas Gerais State / Principales complicaciones respiratorias de los adultos quemados admitidos a un hospital de referencia del estado de Minas Gerais

OBJETIVO: Descrever as principais complicações respiratórias do adulto queimado admitido em um centro de terapia intensiva de um hospital de referência do estado de Minas Gerais. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal, no qual foram incluídos todos os pacientes admitidos no setor de terapia intensiva da Unidade de Tratamento de Queimados de 1º de janeiro a 30 de junho de 2017 deste hospital. Os dados coletados foram submetidos à análise estatística com o uso do software Microsoft® Office Excel 2010 e pelo Minitab® versão 18. O estudo foi aprovado no Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Instituição, com parecer número 2.698.566. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados 62 registros de pacientes, a maioria do sexo masculino (64,52%, n=40). A média de idade dos pacientes foi de 43,90±16,57 anos, sendo a faixa etária mais prevalente entre 18 e 34 anos (35,48%, n=22). A maior parte dos pacientes necessitou de suporte avançado de vida, sendo que 74,20% (n=46) foram submetidos à intubação orotraqueal e, destes, 50% (n=23) foram traqueostomizados posteriormente. As complicações respiratórias foram observadas em 51,61% (n=32), sendo as principais: pneumonia (25,81%, n=16), lesão de via aérea (24,19%, n=15), atelectasia (17,74%, n=11), congestão pulmonar (12,90%, n=8) e síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo (8,06%, n=5). CONCLUSÃO: As principais complicações respiratórias foram pneumonia e lesão de via aérea. Tais complicações contribuíram para maior tempo de internação hospitalar e de ventilação mecânica.

Objective: To describe main pulmonary complications in burned adults admitted to intensive care unit of a burn center of Minas Gerais State. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, which included all patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a burn unit, from January, 1st until June, 30th. Collected data were submitted to statistical analyzes using software Microsoft® Excel 2010 and Minitab® version 18. The study was approved by Research Ethics Committee of the institution, with opinion number 2698566. RESULTS: 62 patients records were analyzed, most male (64.52%, n=40), mean age of patients was 43.90±16.57 years, being most prevalent age group between 18 and 34 years (35.48%, n=22). Most patients needed advanced life support, 74.20% (n=46) used endotracheal tube and, of these, 50% (n=23) were tracheostomized later. Pulmonary complications were observed in 51.61% (n=32), and the main ones were: pneumonia (25.81%, n=16), airway injury (24.19%, n=15), atelectasis (17.74%, n=11), pulmonary congestion (12,90%, n=8) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (8.06%, n=5). CONCLUSION: Main pulmonary complications were pneumonia and airway injury. Such complications have contributed to increase time of hospitalization and mechanical ventilation.

Objetivo: Describir las principales complicaciones respiratorias de los adultos quemados admitidos en el centro de cuidados intensivos de un hospital de referencia del estado de Minas Gerais. Método: Estudio transversal, que incluyó a todos los pacientes ingresados en el sector de cuidados intensivos de la Unidad de Quemados de este hospital, del 1º enero hasta 30 junio de 2017. Los datos recolectados fueron sometidos al análisis estadístico utilizando los programas Microsoft® Office Excel 2010 y por Minitab® versión 18. El estudio fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética de Investigación de la institución - dictamen nº 2.698.566. Resultados: 62 pacientes participaron del estudio, en su mayoría hombres (64,52%, n=40), con media de edad de 43,90±16.57 años, siendo más prevalente el grupo de edad comprendido entre 18 y 34 años (35,48%, n=22). La mayoría de los pacientes necesitó apoyo vital avanzado, conun 74,20% (n=46) sometidos a intubación orotraqueal y, de estos, 50% (n=23) fueron traqueostomizados posteriormente. Se observaron complicaciones respiratorias en un 51,61% (n=32) de los pacientes, siendo las principales: neumonía (25,81%, n=16), lesiones de las vías respiratorias (24,19%, n=15), atelectasia (17,74%, n=11), congestión pulmonar (12,90%, n= 8) y síndrome de dificultad respiratoria aguda (8,06%, n=5). Conclusión: Las principales complicationes respiratorias fueron neumonía y lesiones de las vías respiratorias. Tales complicaciones han contribuido a estancias más largas en el hospital y utilización de ventilación mecánica.

Case report of severe bronchial web-like stenoses after 'surviving the unsurvivable'.

BACKGROUND: There are few cases of multiple bronchial stenoses reported in the literature and none of the severity described here. The case is relevant due to its rareness, the pathophysiological insights derived, the successful interventional pulmonology strategies demonstrated, and as an example of a rare indication for high-risk lung transplantation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 47-year-old man developed multiple recurrent bronchial web-like stenoses five weeks after an episode of severe tracheo-bronchitis presumed secondary to a chemical inhalation injury which initially caused complete bilateral lung collapse necessitating veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The stenoses completely effaced bronchi in many locations causing severe type II respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and bronchoscopic puncture / dilatation then ultimately bilateral lung transplantation. CONCLUSION: This very rare case highlights the morbid sequelae that can arise after catastrophic tracheobronchitis which now, in the era of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, may be survivable in the short-term.

Point-of-care endoscopic optical coherence tomography detects changes in mucosal thickness in ARDS due to smoke inhalation and burns.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in mechanically ventilated burn patients is 33%, with mortality varying from 11-46% depending on ARDS severity. Despite the new Berlin definition for ARDS, prompt bedside diagnosis is lacking. We developed and tested a bedside technique of fiberoptic-bronchoscopy-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurement of airway mucosal thickness (MT) for diagnosis of ARDS following smoke inhalation injury (SII) and burns. METHODS: 16 female Yorkshire pigs received SII and 40% thermal burns. OCT MT and PaO2-to-FiO2 ratio (PFR) measurements were taken at baseline, after injury, and at 24, 48, and 72h after injury. RESULTS: Injury led to thickening of MT which was sustained in animals that developed ARDS. Significant correlations were found between MT, PFR, peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), and total infused fluid volume. CONCLUSIONS: OCT is a useful tool to quantify MT changes in the airway following SII and burns. OCT may be effective as a diagnostic tool in the early stages of SII-induced ARDS and should be tested in humans.

Acute kidney injury after burn surgery: Preoperative neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as a predictive factor.

BACKGROUND: Severe inflammation and acute kidney injury (AKI) are serious adverse events after burn injuries. The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of inflammation. We evaluated the independent risk factors for postoperative AKI, including NLR, in burn-injured patients. METHODS: The preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables of 473 burn-injured patients were collected. The risk factors for AKI after burn surgery were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of preoperative NLR was performed. The 3-month mortality after surgery was also compared between AKI and non-AKI groups using Kaplan-Meier analysis with a log-rank test. RESULTS: Postoperative AKI occurred in 71 of 473 (15.0%) burn patients. The total body surface area burned (odds ratio (OR), 1.013; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.001-1.026; P = 0.037), inhalation injury (OR, 1.821; 95% CI, 1.008-3.292; P = 0.047), and preoperative NLR (OR, 1.094; 95% CI, 1.064-1.125; P < 0.001) were risk factors for AKI after surgery. The area under the ROC curve was 0.767, with an optimal cut-off value of 11.7. Moreover, the 3-month mortality after surgery was significantly higher in the AKI group than in the non-AKI group (49.3% vs 14.9%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Total body surface area burned, inhalation injury, and preoperative NLR are risk factors for AKI after burn surgery, which is associated with early postoperative mortality. Preoperative NLR can provide useful information for the early detection of postoperative AKI and subsequent mortality in burn-injured patients.

Inhalational injury and the larynx: A review.

OBJECTIVE: To review and discuss the existing research on the pathophysiology, impact and management of inhalational injury on the larynx and lower respiratory tract. DATA SOURCES: A literature search was conducted on the PubMed, MedLine, Embase, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases based on the keywords "airway burn", "inhalational injury" and "larynx". REVIEW METHODS: Inclusion criteria included English language studies containing original and review data on airway injury. Data was reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal laryngeal and lower airway findings are common in burns patients and the incidence tends to increase with severity of the burns. Most patients with abnormal findings remain dysphonic decades after the initial injury. Larynx, the inlet to the airway, is exposed to the most intense thermal damage and highest concentration of chemical in inhalational injury. Airway injury is common and may result in long term morbidity. Healing of this tissue architecture is prolonged and different from cutaneous burn. Many patients receive prolonged intubation for medical complications that arise due to the burn injury. The degree of subglottic damage, however, is more extensive and occurs sooner compared with those without inhalational injuries. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: With advances in acute medical and surgical management of burn and inhalational injury, airway injury is an important secondary outcome with lasting impact. Awareness of these potential complications and early involvement of medical and allied health team are important steps in improving patient care. A multi-disciplinary approach to management will optimise the short and long-term morbidity management and ultimately our patients' quality of life.

[Morphological and pathological changes of larynx after severe laryngeal burn in dogs and their relationship with laryngostenosis].

Objective: To investigate the morphological and pathological changes of the larynx after severe laryngeal burn in dogs and their relationship with laryngostenosis. Methods: Eighteen healthy, male beagle dogs were assigned into control group, immediately after injury group, and 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after injury groups according to the random number table, with 3 dogs in each group. Dogs of injury group inhaled saturated steam through mouth for 5 seconds to reproduce severe laryngeal burn. Tracheotomy and intubation were performed immediately after injury, and 400 000 U/d penicillin was intravenously infused for 1 week. The feeding, activity, and vocalization of dogs in each group after injury were observed until they were sacrificed. Immediately after injury and 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after injury, the laryngeal morphology of the dogs in corresponding time point groups were observed by endoscope. After the observation, the dogs in each injury group were sacrificed, and the laryngeal tissue was taken. The epiglottis, glottis, and cricoid cartilage were collected to make full-thickness tissue slice, respectively, and their pathological changes were observed with hematoxylin and eosin staining. The dogs of control group were not specially treated, and their life activities, laryngeal morphological and pathological changes were observed. Results: (1) The dogs of control group had normal feeding, activities, and vocalization. All the dogs in injury group survived until they were sacrificed, and their feeding, activities, and vocalization were obviously reduced after injury compared with those of control group. The dogs of 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after injury groups ate and moved normally 2 weeks after injury but vocalized abnormally in frequency and volume compared with those of control group, which lasted until they were sacrificed. (2) The dog's laryngeal mucosa in control group was complete and pink, without obvious exudation. The laryngeal mucosa of the dog in immediately after injury group was pale and edematous, with obvious exudation, local ulceration, necrosis, and exfoliation, and dilated microvessels on the surface. The laryngeal mucosa of the dogs in 2 weeks after injury group was pale, edematous, and oozed less than that of immediately after injury group, and the glottis was blocked by an obviously extruding mass. The paleness and edema of laryngeal mucosa were significantly reduced in the dogs of 4 weeks after injury group compared with those of 2 weeks after injury group, without dilated microvessel, and the glottic extruding mass was obviously smaller than that of 2 weeks after injury group. The sizes of glottic mass were similar between the dogs of 6 and 8 weeks after injury groups, which were obviously smaller than that in 4 weeks after injury group. (3) In the dogs of control group, the epithelial cells of epiglottis, glottis, and cricoid cartilage were normal in morphology, the proper glands were visible in the intrinsic layer, and the muscle fibers and the chondrocytes were normal in morphology. In the dogs of immediately after injury group, large sheets of epiglottis epidermis exfoliated, the epithelial cells were swollen and necrotic, the intrinsic glands were atrophic and necrotic, and the chondrocytes were degenerated and necrotic. The epidermis of the glottis partially exfoliated, the epithelial cells were swollen and necrotic, the intrinsic glands were atrophic and necrotic, the muscle fibers were partially atrophic and fractured, and the vacuolar chondrocytes were visible. The cricoid cartilage epidermis was ablated, the epithelial cells were swollen, the intrinsic layer and submucosal layer were slightly edematous, and the morphological structure of glands, chondrocytes, and muscle fibers were normal. In the dogs of 2 weeks after injury group, the epiglottis epidermis was completely restored, a small amount of glands in the intrinsic layer were repaired, and obsolete necrotic chondrocytes and new chondrocytes could be seen. A large number of fibroblasts, new capillaries, and inflammatory cells infiltration were observed in the epidermis of glottis, and intrinsic layer glands were repaired. The cricoid cartilage epidermis was repaired intactly, and there was no edema in the intrinsic layer. In the dogs of 4 weeks after injury group, the epiglottis intrinsic layer glands were further repaired compared with those of 2 weeks after injury group, and new chondrocytes were seen in the submucosa of the glottis. The condition of cricoid cartilage was consistent with that of control group. The dog's epiglottis, glottis, and cricoid cartilage were similar between the 6 and 8 weeks after injury groups, and no significant change was observed compared with those of 4 weeks after injury group. Conclusions: The morphological changes of larynx after severe laryngeal burn in dogs include mucosa detachment and necrosis, and mass blocking glottis. Pathological changes include epidermis shedding and necrosis, gland atrophy and necrosis, vascular congestion and embolism, chondrocytes degeneration, necrosis and proliferation, even local granulation tissue formation and cartilaginous metaplasia. These results may be the cause of laryngostenosis after laryngeal burn.

[Analysis on treatment of extremely severe burn patients with severe inhalation injury in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident].

Objective: To summarize the measures and experience in diagnosis and treatment of extremely severe burn patients with severe inhalation injury in dust explosion accident. Methods: The medical records of 13 patients with extremely severe burn complicated with severe inhalation injury in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident who were treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (hereinafter referred to as our hospital) on August 2nd, 2014, were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were transferred to our hospital 3-8 hours after injury under the condition of inhalation of pure oxygen. Twelve patients underwent tracheotomy within 5 hours after admission, while 1 patient underwent tracheotomy before admission. All the patients were in ventilator-assisted respiration, with synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation combined with positive end expiratory pressure. All the patients underwent thorax or limbs escharotomy on the second day after admission, so as to reduce the restrictive ventilatory dysfunction caused by the contraction of thorax eschar and the terminal circulation disorder caused by the contraction of limbs eschar. All the patients underwent electronic bronchoscopy within 48 hours after admission, airway secretion were cleared and airway lavage were carried out under electronic bronchoscope according to the patients' condition, and the sputum, lavage solution, pathological tissue were collected for microbiological culture. All the patients underwent chest X-ray examination on the second day after admission and reexamination as required. Patients were all treated with a combination of broad-spectrum antibiotics early after admission to control lung and systemic infection. One patient was treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory distress syndrome 1 week after admission. Results: One patient suffered from cardiopulmonary arrest during tracheotomy, which recovered autonomous respiration and cardiac impulse after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Three patients showed decreased pulse oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) within 48 hours after injury, and the SpO(2) returned to normal after sputum aspiration, scab removal and lavage under electronic bronchoscope. During the course of disease, bacteria were cultured from wound exudate of 7 patients, bacteremia occurred in 10 patients, and sputum microbiological culture results of 13 patients were positive. Eight of the 13 patients in this group survived, and 5 died. One patient died 19 days after injury, and 4 patients died 33-46 days after injury. The main cause of death was multiple organ dysfunction syndrome induced by severe septic shock eventually. Conclusions: For this batch of patients with extremely severe burn complicated with severe inhalation injury caused by dust explosion accident, the treatment and cure measures including early definite diagnosis and timely tracheotomy, the application of effective ventilation, the effective treatment of respiratory system complications, and rational use of antibiotics for the control of lung infection obtained quite good curative effect.

[Reflection on rescue and treatment of mass burn patients involved in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident].

The treatment of mass burn patients is related to social stability, life saving, and disability reducing. It is also an important opportunity to accumulate, summarize, and improve clinical rescue and treatment experience. Aiming at August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion, this article reviews and summarizes experience and problems about rescue reserve, first-aid system, multidisciplinary cooperation, and integration of usual time and emergent time treatment, so as to propose corresponding strategies and provide reference for the treatment of mass burn patients and critically burned patients.

Determining the role of nasolaryngoscopy in the initial evaluation for upper airway injury in patients with facial burns.

BACKGROUND: Upper airway injuries can be fatal in burn patients if not recognized, a scenario that causes a significant amount of anxiety for physicians providing initial assessment of burn patients. Early elective intubation is often performed; sometimes unnecessarily. However, some providers employ nasolaryngoscopy for patients presenting with facial burns or signs/symptoms of upper airway injury in order to assess the need for intubation, but this practice is not considered standard of care and may also be unnecessary. Evidence is currently lacking about the utility of nasolaryngoscopy as an adjuvant assessment during evaluation of potential upper airway burn injuries. The objective of this study was to determine if nasolaryngoscopy provides additional information to the history and physical in making the decision to electively intubate patients with facial burns. METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent fiberoptic nasolaryngoscopy after facial burn injury to evaluate for upper airway injury associated with burns over a 2 year period at a regional burn center. During this time period, all patients who presented with facial burns, soot, or carbonaceous sputum underwent nasolaryngoscopy to look for upper airway injury regardless of mechanism of injury. Patients intubated prior to arrival were excluded from the study. Patients were considered to have signs/symptoms of airway injury (symptomatic) if they presented with dyspnea, tachypnea, hypoxia, or significant burns to buccal mucosa. Procedure notes were used to determine if supraglottic/glottic injury (erythema or edema) was present on nasolaryngoscopy. Presence of pathologic changes and whether they led to intubation were evaluated in the asymptomatic and the symptomatic groups of patients. Select individual records were inspected further to help determine if the nasolaryngoscopy findings altered management plans and if intubation was ultimately necessary based upon the presence or absence of a cuff leak and the duration of intubation. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were symptomatic upon presentation, 14 of which had positive findings on laryngoscopy and 7 (50%) were intubated. One-hundred and eighty-eight patients were asymptomatic, 58 (31%) of which had either erythema or edema or carbonaceous debris on nasolaryngoscopy, and only 2 (1%) were intubated. These patients were both extubated within two days. None of the 130 asymptomatic patients with negative nasolaryngoscopy were intubated. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed disparity between signs and symptoms of airway injury and nasolaryngoscopy findings. Asymptomatic patients showed pathologic changes in 30% of scopes, but this finding only changed management 1% of the time. Furthermore, the two patients in this group were extubated quickly, suggesting they may have been suitable for observation without intubation. These results indicate that the presence of erythema or edema is of questionable clinical significance in asymptomatic patients and nasolaryngoscopy is of limited benefit in this group. Only 50% of the symptomatic patients with airway injury evident on nasolaryngoscopy were actually intubated, also bringing into question the significance of the pathologic changes in this group. However, negative nasolaryngoscopy may have had some benefit in preventing intubation in a few, select symptomatic patients. This study suggests that a thorough history and physical is the best tool to identify patients at higher risk of upper airway injury who need intubation, but this should be further studied in prospective trials to determine the definitive role of nasolaryngoscopy.

The Contributing Risk of Tobacco Use for ARDS Development in Burn-Injured Adults With Inhalation Injury.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to determine the relationship between tobacco use, inhalation injury, and ARDS in burn-injured adults. METHODS: This study was an observational cohort of 2,485 primary burn admissions to a referral burn center between January 1, 2008 and March 15, 2015. Subjects were evaluated by methods used to account for mediation and traditional approaches (multivariable logistic regression and propensity score analysis). Mediation analysis examined both the (1) indirect effect of tobacco use via inhalation injury as the mediator on ARDS development and (2) the direct effect of tobacco use alone on ARDS development. RESULTS: ARDS development occurred in 6.8% (n = 170) of the cohort. Inhalation injury occurred in 5.0% (n = 125) of the cohort, and ARDS developed in 48.8% (n = 83) of the subjects with inhalation injury. Tobacco use was 2-fold more common in subjects with ARDS. In the mediated model, the direct effect of tobacco use on ARDS, including interaction between tobacco use and inhalation injury, was not significant (odds ratio [OR] 1.63, 95% CI 0.91-2.92, P = .10). However, the indirect effect of tobacco use via inhalation injury as the mediator was significant (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.25-2.07, P < .001), and the proportion of the total effect of tobacco use operating through the mediator was 55.6%. In the non-mediation models (multivariable logistic regression and propensity score analysis), which controlled for inhalation injury and other covariables, the OR for the association between tobacco use and ARDS was 1.84 (95% CI 1.22-2.81, P < .001) and 1.69 (95% CI 1.04-2.75, P = .03), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In mediation analysis, inhalation injury was the overwhelming predictor for ARDS development, whereas tobacco use has its strongest effect indirectly through inhalation injury. Patients with at least moderate inhalation injury are at greatest risk for ARDS development despite baseline risk factors like tobacco use.

Management of Pulmonary Failure after Burn Injury: From VDR to ECMO.

This article highlights the challenges in managing pulmonary failure after burn injury. The authors review several different ventilator techniques, provide weaning parameters, and discuss complications.

Incidence of Sinusitis in Burn Victims and Association With Inhalational Injury.

The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of sinusitis in mechanically ventilated burn victims and to examine if the presence of inhalational injury increases the likelihood of developing sinusitis. The authors hypothesize that the incidence of sinusitis will be increased in burn victims who have concomitant inhalational injury. A retrospective chart analysis was performed on all patients who were admitted to the Nathan Speare Regional Burn Treatment Center over a 24-month time frame. Patients who were mechanically ventilated for greater than 24 hours were then selected, resulting in a total of 137 patients for analysis. Multiple variables including number of days on mechanical ventilation, presence of confirmed inhalational injury by bronchoscopy, and method of diagnosis were examined. Of 137 patients, a diagnosis of sinusitis was made in 32 patients (23%). In patients with sinusitis, 87.5% had inhalational injury confirmed with bronchoscopy, compared with only 33.3% of patients without sinusitis (P < .01). Rates of nasotracheal/nasogastric intubation, nasoenteric feeding, and length of mechanical ventilation before sinusitis diagnosis were not significantly different. Patients with sinusitis were found to have suffered inhalational injury at a significantly higher rate than those who did not develop sinusitis. This suggests that inhalational injury is a significant risk factor for developing sinusitis.

Benefit of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in major burns after stun grenade explosion: Experience from a single military medical center.

INTRODUCTION: Explosion injury is very common on the battlefield and is associated with major burn and inhalation injuries and subsequent high mortality and morbidity rates. Here we report six victims who suffered from explosion injuries caused by stun grenade; all were treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as salvage therapy. This study was aimed to evaluate the indications and efficacy of ECMO in acute and critically ill major burn patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of six patients from Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center in Taiwan. All suffered from major burns with 89.0±19.1% average of total body surface area over second degree (TBSA; range, 50-99%). ECMO was used due to inhalation injury in five patients and cardiogenic shock in one patient. The average interval to start ECMO was 26.5±19.0h (range, 14-63h). Venoarterial ECMO was used on in four patients due to unstable hemodynamic status, whereas venovenous ECMO was used in two patients for sustained hypoxemia. RESULTS: All patients had rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure. The average duration of ECMO was 169.6±180.9h (range, 27-401h). All patients developed coagulopathy and needed debridement surgery during ECMO support, and five underwent torso escharotomy due to inspiratory compromise. Only one patient whose second and third degree burns covered 50% TBSA was successfully weaned from ECMO and survived; he was discharged after 221 hospital days. All patients who died had second and third degree burns covering over 90% of their TBSA. Three patients died of multiple organ failure, one died of septic shock, and the other died of cardiogenic shock. Overall survival rate was 16.7%. CONCLUSIONS: In acute and critically ill major burn patients, ECMO could be considered as a salvage therapy, particularly in those with inhalation injury and burn-related acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, ECMO does not seem to provide benefits for circulatory support in those with hemodynamic compromise. The use of ECMO in these patients is still investigational, as our data provided no benefit in terms of the outcomes or survival, particularly in those with more than 90% TBSA burns.