The importance of fiberbronchoscopy in respiratory burns

Respiratory burns worsen considerably the prognosis of the patients. Fiberoptic endoscopy facilitated the examination of respiratory burns and determined the degree and extent of mucosal damage. At the same time, aspiration and lavage of the affected bronchi can be advantageously used in therapy. 22 patients with respiratory burns were hospitalized at the Burn Centre, Works Institute of Health Care, East Slovak Iron Works, Kosice (Czechoslovakia); 13 of them died, i.e. 59.1%. The paper analyzes fiberbronchoscopy applied to respiratory burns, anaesthetic technique and intubation, and the results are compared with post mortem findings. Some clinical findings are demonstrated, too.