THE ADMISSION CHEST RADIOGRAPH AFTER ACUTE INHALATION INJURY AND BURNS

The admission chest radiographs of 29 patients admitted with acute inh alation injury and burns, who required ventilatory support, were analy sed for signs of inhalation injury. Four were excluded because of a hi story of chronic bronchitis or cardiac failure. 13 had radiological si gns of inhalation injury, which included oedema of a nodular, consolid atory and interstitial pattern, and linear opacities due to atelectasi s. 12 chest radiographs were normal. Inhalation injury in burns cases often requires clinical, bronchoscopic and blood gas assessment. Altho ugh changes were noted on 13/25 chest radiographs, the admission chest radiograph is an insensitive indicator of airway and parenchymal lung damage following acute inhalation injury and burns. We draw attention to the fact that significant lung damage may be present even with a n ormal initial chest radiograph.