[Pulmonary complications in burn patients and their functional repercussions]

The authors review the literature about respiratory burns and their initial and late functional repercussions. Upper airway oedema induces initial upper airway obstructive impairment. Pulmonary parenchymal failure is characterised by the functional consequences observed with adult respiratory distress syndrome. Survivors may be free of functional impairment. Smoke inhalation syndrome leads to variable airway obstruction resolving usually within 5 months. Persistence of an obstructive impairment may be due to the development of polyposis and/or stenosis in large airways, bronchiolitis obliteration or bronchiectasis.