• Afife Ayla Kabalak and Ahmet Cınar Yastı.
• Burns Treatment Center, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. aylakabalak@yahoo.com
• Ulus Travma Acil Cer. 2012 Jul 1;18(4):333-8.

BackgroundInhalation injury has high mortality and carries a significant risk of permanent pulmonary dysfunction. Inhalation injury and its consequences impose difficulties for the respiratory therapists, nurses and doctors who play a central role in its clinical management. In this study, we aimed to report our clinical experience and the role of non-invasive mechanic ventilatory (NIMV) support in a series of inhalation-injured patients.MethodsPatients hospitalized at Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital's Burns Intensive Care Unit between March 2009 and March 2011 was reviewed, and patients with required respiratory support due to inhalation injury were included in the study.ResultsAmong the patients, 37 had inhalation injury, and their mortality was 13.5%. Of the 37 patients, 16 had mandatory intubation (6 in the first 6 hours and 10 in the clinical course); however, others (67.8%) had only NIMV support.ConclusionApplication of NIMV support with proper modes decreases the need for invasive procedures in inhalation-injured patients. Based on our results, we propose the application of NIMV support in inhalation-injured burn patients.

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