THE ROLE OF BRONCHOSCOPY IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF INHALATION INJURY.

Abstract

The history of studying the problem of inhalation injury has several decades.
I.I. Dzhanelidze wrote about changes in the lungs of victims of a fire. Janelidze back in
1941. Already in the 60s, it became clear to researchers that damage to the respiratory tract
is one of the main causes of death in burn victims. The most severe lesions of the respiratory
tract develop under the action of chemical compounds inhaled along with smoke. It is
undeniable that the prognosis for life with a combination of skin burns with inhalation
injury is unfavorable. According to various authors, mortality in combined thermal injury
ranges from 45 to 78%. These data indicate that, despite the advances in the treatment of
burn patients achieved in recent decades, which have significantly reduced mortality in
extensive skin burns associated with hypovolemic disorders during the period of burn shock,
with infectious complications, as well as wound exhaustion, inhalation lesions airways still
remain a serious problem in combustiology. The existing therapeutic and tactical schemes
for managing the victims need further development, taking into account the severity of the
respiratory tract injury and prognostic assessment of the outcome of combined trauma.