Korean J Occup Environ Med.  1999 Dec;11(4):579-584.

Assessment of Voice Disorder following Inhalation Injury

• Kim ES
• Doh YJ
• Won J
• Noh J

Abstract

Objective
Injury to the airway, found in 25% to 35% of patients admitted to major burn center, is now the leading cause of death in burn patients. Significant inhalation injury can increase the patient mortality rates by up to 20%. Toxic compounds in smoke can include phosgene, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and chlorine from plastics and various oxides and aldehydes from burning wood. These compound directly injure airway epithe hal cells, causing an intense inflammatory response with significant edema. After the critical problem is controlled with intensive care in inhalation burn patients, less critical but significant laryngeal function such as protection, phonation and deglutition may often be overlooked. METHOD & RESULT: We have experienced a male patient who was injured by inhalation of toxic compound in ship under cohstruction. He have suffered from pulmonary problem, bronchiohitis obhiterans. Voice disorder was assessed and managed by otolaryngologists after resolving the pulmonary lesion.
CONCLUSION
Evaluation and treatment of patients suspected of inhalation injury should include anatomical and functional aspects of the larynx as well as critical problem of the airway.

Keyword

Inhalation injury; Voice disorder

MeSH Terms

Aldehydes
Ammonia
Burn Units
Burns
Burns, Inhalation
Cause of Death
Chlorine
Deglutition
Edema
Humans
Inhalation*
Intensive Care
Larynx
Male
Mortality
Oxides
Phonation
Phosgene
Plastics
Ships
Smoke
Sulfur Dioxide
Voice Disorders*
Voice*
Wood
Aldehydes
Ammonia
Chlorine
Oxides
Phosgene
Plastics
Smoke
Sulfur Dioxide