Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association
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Multicenter Study
Inhalation injury in children: a 10 year experience at Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Inhalation injury remains a significant source of morbidity and mortality in children with burn injury. The purpose of this study is to analyze the incidence, demographic characteristics, and outcomes for children who have sustained burn injury at one of four regional pediatric burn centers. A retrospective review of children aged 0 to 18 years admitted to one of four pediatric burn centers from 1997 to 2007 with a diagnosis of inhalation injury was performed. ⋯ Mortality was 16.4%. Inhalation injury in children is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and diagnosis of inhalation injury does not follow consistent guidelines. Further studies are required to standardize diagnostic criteria for inhalation injury and to optimize the treatment of children with inhalation injury.