treatment of inhalation injury below the larynx
Last reviewed 01/2018
Inhalational injury below the larynx is treated with respiratory support. This entails:
- humidified oxygen:
- administered at a rate of at least 8 litres per minute
- via a non-rebreathing mask
- intubation:
- permits bronchiolar suctioning
- allows higher concentrations of oxygen to be delivered as a result of reduced dead space
- ventilation:
- allows greater oxygen delivery by alteration of ventilatory settings
- typically intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV)
- rarely, extracorporeal oxygenation has been used where conventional oxygenation has not maintained oxygenation